Sean Carleton
L. Wendy Dunder
KT Hancock
April 7 – 30, 2017
Opening Reception with the Artists:
First Friday, April 7, 6-8 pm
In the Front Space:
Introducing Bainbridge Island Monotype Artist
Meg
Hartwell
IMAGES SHOWN ABOVE:
Harper’s
Bazaar, Illuminated Sculpture. L.
Wendy Dunder. Wood and paper. 25” t x 19”w
No. 54 Light in the Dark. Sean Carleton. Steel and glass. 3' x 3' x 9'
About
the Show:
One-of-a-kind sculptural illuminations that enhance daily
living, made from wood and paper, steel and glass, for indoor and outdoor use.
In the Front Space: Introducing Meg Hartwell and her recent
abstract monotypes.
About
the Artists:
Sean Carleton (Bothell, Washington)
Sean Carleton is a
multi-disciplinary artist creating work in Bothell, Washington. A Washington
native who has a lifelong passion for creating with his hands, his work ranges
from unobtrusive yet sophisticated metalwork which supports beautiful Northwest
hardwoods, to sculpturally artistic, dramatic metalwork as the emphasis of the
piece. Carleton has been recognized for furniture design and quality by the
Bellevue Art Museum and Northwest Woodworkers Gallery.
Sean gives us the
background on two of his pieces:
no. 54
Light in the Dark
In
2015 I dreamt of this series of sculptures while sleeping. My entire life has
been dedicated to passionate work with my hands and this piece is one of my
highest achievements. I am passionate about the environment and I believe that
understanding is not only extracted from literature but from physical objects.
"Light in the Dark" depicts many aspects of my young life as well as
the struggle and transformation which I have undergone and will continue to
pursue for the rest of my life. I wanted to build a piece that would draw the viewer
in and upon closer inspection reveal the beautiful power of the stored sunlight
in batteries and transmitted through silica melted into glass form. These
elements are supported in an iron cage that is intended to unfurl as the petals
of a flower. Each of earth's elements work in concert to remind us of the
infinite beauty of the world around us and that we shall preserve this wonderful
place we call home. These beacons and vessels will illuminate around the world
as the sun sets demonstrating connectivity between each one of us as we move
toward our bright future.
The framework is
constructed in rolled steel tubing. The center of the piece has an illumination
column that runs vertically giving upward motion to the piece as well as
corresponding glass color as light moves upward. Each light is powered by a
small battery pack which stores the sun's energy from the daylight and
illuminates the pieces throughout the night.
no. 62
Emerald City Lantern
Starting
my life as a Craftsman in the Seattle trades was a challenging beginning. A
fellow student in one of my metallurgy classes told me to quit now before I
wasted my life; it was my first week of school. I quickly developed a strong
skill set and made a point to continually change the type of work that I was perfecting
to stay engaged. As Seattle began to change and develop a more upwardly mobile
class structure the craft work that I had once been able to support myself on
was becoming harder to come by. Many of my colleagues pursued other career
choices while I delved further into the diverse world of craft and magical
realms of industrial Seattle. This lantern signifies the guiding light in the
dark to inspire the Craftsmen, Craftswomen, and the Blue Collar workers in the
trying times which the tech world has imposed on us.
The
process of constructing this Lantern was a culmination of months of planning
and design. In 2015 I met KT Hancock who is an established glass artist, and
former Chihuly student based in Queen Anne. Originally from Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, KT moved to Seattle in 2015 to pursue her glass career in the
Emerald City. We had a chance meeting that has now inspired several pieces
incorporating Hancock's Emeralds. I designed this object of illumination around
KT's beautiful glass work which was blown by Taylor Ames at the Pratt Fine Arts
Center and cold worked by Karsten Oaks in Ballard. We all worked together
tirelessly on this piece and I thank you for spending time with our work.
L.
Wendy Dunder (Portland, Oregon)
Wendy is a professional watercolor and acrylic
painter, known for depicting landscapes, still life, animals, and people. Recently,
however, her focus has shifted to creating sculptural lamps of bent wood and
laminated paper. As a certified teacher
and Artist in Residence in schools in her area she is also deeply involved in
creating curriculum-based murals. A
hallmark of her work is the involvement of her students in the process, and together
they have created permanent outdoor municipal murals of concrete, stone, tile,
glass, and paint.
Created from multiple
layers of tissue paper glued in place over frameworks of materials such as
thin-cut and bent wood, reed, bamboo, and welding rod, these illuminated
sculptures spring to life as glowing wall sconces, table lamps and hanging
lamps. Delicate and graceful in appearance, they are amazingly strong and
functional.
Wendy was recently
called upon to test her art skills with a huge installation, which she
describes below:
One snowy day in
January I received a call asking if I could build 40 football lamps in three weeks.
My sister and I flew out of Portland on the day the city was closed by snow. We
set up a workshop in Houston and applied tissue paper and glue to football
shaped balloons in 12 hour days. For the show the footballs were lit by color
changing LEDs, and moved up and down on little servo motors controlled by the
soundboard.
The grand gala event
that featured her football lamps, entitled Luminaries
of the Game, was held February 1 in Houston, Texas, hosted by the Houston
Super Bowl Host Committee, and was one of the events included in the city’s
run-up to Super Bowl LI. Here is the
dramatic result, unfortunately without the delightful movement created by her
40 “dancing” footballs:
Forty Footballs.
L. Wendy Dunder.
Installation, Houston, Texas
KT Hancock (Seattle, Washington)
KT
Hancock is an emerging artist based in Seattle, Washington. With a background
in metalsmithing and glassblowing, she incorporates both mediums into her work.
Her pieces demonstrate an interest in the idea of preciousness. The gem-shaped
objects convey an idealized adornment piece for the body. Although not wearable, these objects reflect
an inherent cultural, physical and sentimental value. KT has a Bachelor’s degree in metalsmithing
and sculpture from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and has also attended
and worked at Pilchuck Glass School, an educational institution founded by Dale
Chihuly. She has continued her
practice as a freelance designer and maker.
For
the art works featured in this show, KT has teamed with fellow artist Sean
Carleton to produce fascinating illuminated sculptures created from glass and
steel.
Meg Hartwell (Bainbridge Island, Washington)
I was an
operating room scrub nurse for fifteen years, passing scissor, clamp, even saws
to help fix the human body. I was privileged to see and hold body organs, and
x-ray images. Music was always playing in the background. The atmosphere
in the room had a calm control in the midst of chaos. Tools or surgical
instruments had a specific purpose and fascinated me. This experience
influenced my art and shaped my life.
The monoprinting
process allows me to embrace happy accidents and mark making with an array of
tools. I am creating a visual language inspired by vibrant colors, pop
art, and abstract expressionism to evoke a sense of controlled calmness. I tear
and cut, and approximate the printed tissue paper pieces into a final
composition.
Blue and Pink with Plaid.
Monotype. Meg Hartwell
Established in
2002, The Island Gallery features internationally recognized artists whose work takes
traditional art forms in exciting new
directions: studio furniture and sculpture; museum quality textile art and wearables; wood fired ceramics from the finest potters in
America; paintings and prints; and unique jewelry creations. Our monthly exhibitions
include live musical concerts, featuring such genres as jazz, rock, folk,
chamber music and performance art. This,
along with its reputation for excellence, makes The Island Gallery a
destination spot on beautiful
Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, and steps from the new
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.
Contact Us/Visit:
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Event Location:
The Island Gallery, 400 Winslow Way E, #120,
Bainbridge Island, Washington.
Underground parking is available at The Winslow
off Ericksen Avenue.
