Tag Archives: art

Exhibition at Gallery Bistro

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Since many of my readers are too far away to come to my exhibition, I have this video to provide an idea of what it looks like.  (As a reminder to my local readers, the Gallery Bistro is open 10am-3pm Tuesday through Sunday and I am at the gallery most Sundays.)

Some pieces which you may not have seen previously appear in the video and can be found in my  Gallery.  The video also shows different angles of the pieces with which you are already familiar.

I would suggest watching the video in high-definition.  The video is 8:36 long and free of dialogue.

Hilden & Diaz – Forms in Nature

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Hilden & Diaz - Forms in Nature

Title:  Forms in Nature
Artist Name:  Hilden & Diaz
Material:  Polymer
Dimensions:  60cm x 60cm x 60cm
Year:  2012

Why It’s Notable:

Light can be functional, decorative, or both.  The light from Forms in Nature is both.

As furniture designers, we usually think about the form of our furniture and how light will fall upon it.  Because light is usually not integral to woodwork, we have little control over how the two will interact.

Hilden & Diaz have taken light and made it an integral part of the design.  The light is manipulated to cast shadows created by the frame of the chandelier.

As I continue to design, I am realizing that I want to incorporate materials other than wood (including light) in my work.  In Deconstructed, I used a urethane resin for the casting and I incorporated metal into the base of Maple Slab Table.  I want to incorporate light into a future piece, probably in a decorative manner.

Stories from Artwalk, Part 2

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During Artwalk, I showed my work in Gallery Bistro (2411 Clarke Street) with three other artists:  Bronwen Belenkie, Clive Tucker and Mandara Lebovitz.  Our exhibition will continue through April 28th. The gallery is open 10am-3pm Tuesday through Sunday.

I plan to be at Gallery Bistro Sunday April 21 and I invite you to come by to look at and/or discuss my work.

Day 1 – Saturday

I arrived at the gallery Saturday morning about 30 minutes early to make sure everything was ready.  That included placing the wooden signs that I’d made for each piece in the venue next to or on the respective artwork.  I volunteered to make the signs because I thought they would be a nice touch, and more importantly they would stay put on furniture without adhesives (unlike a paper card).

Deconstructed Sign

The signs were made of good quality 3/8″ plywood with laser toner heat-transferred to the wood.  I had used the same technique to make the signs for Reaper and Graft.  Just before noon, when Artwalk began, it started to rain – something that nobody wanted to see.

Surprisingly, the rain didn’t slow the crowds.  As soon as I opened the door, half a dozen people walked into the gallery.  It was busy most of the day, with only a few short spans when the gallery was quiet.

Artwalk at Gallery Bistro

Day 2 – Sunday

Sunday was forecasted to be the nicer day of the weekend, so I expected it to be even busier.  And I was right.  Although nobody was banging on the door to be let in, soon the gallery was busy – even crowded.

At 4pm, artists were supposed to close their venues and make their way to Queens Street Plaza for the closing ceremony but at that time we still had a gallery full of people.  Whenever someone left, somebody else wanted to enter.  Finally at 5pm, we turned off the lights and ushered the remaining few to the door.

Results

I was really happy with the event and I was glad to be a part of it.  My work, including Reaper, generated a lot of buzz and Gallery Bistro saw more than 600 people through its doors – at times, it was so busy that you couldn’t move.  I received many comments, positive feedback and encouragement about my work and several pieces were sold.  The silent auctions for Reaper and Graft went very well (to my surprise, Graft received more bids than Reaper).

I also enjoyed talking with my fellow artists.  When a painter suggested that I could make a very nice easel, it gave me an idea for a series of art work.  Hint:  it involves a blank canvas.

Stories from Artwalk, Part 1

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During Artwalk, I showed my work in Gallery Bistro (2411 Clarke Street) with three other artists:  Bronwen Belenkie, Clive Tucker and Mandara Lebovitz.  Our exhibition will continue through April 28th. The gallery is open 10am-3pm Tuesday through Sunday.

Background

The building in which I exhibited was recently bought by husband-wife duo Rainer (pronounced Rye-ner) and Helen Daniels.  There is a cafe in one half of the building and an open gallery space in the other half (behind the white bars which were removed before the show).

Gallery Bistro

Moving Day

The Thursday before Artwalk was our set-up day.  It began with a knock on the door from Rainer Daniels and together we moved Relationship Study in his pick-up truck, upside-down.  The table fit neatly between the wheel wells and was a few inches of the closed tailgate.  The rest of my work, including one of my latest pieces, There is Not Always Light at the End of the Tunnel, was loaded into another vehicle.

There is Not Always Light at the End of the Tunnel Front

Setting Up the Gallery

After we got my work into the gallery, Bronwen and Mandara arrived with their 2D art and begun to install their work on the walls with nails.  There was a moment when we all watched as Bronwen’s young son, who was helping, set down his claw hammer on Relationship Study in what seemed like slow motion.  Luckily, there was no damage and we decided that it would be a good idea to cover the table with moving blankets.

Centre

Last to arrive was Clive.  His colourful ceramics filled the large shelf unit and a table at the end of the space.

Together, our work filled the floorspace and shelves and covered the walls.

Left Wall

The Front Windows

Gracing the left front window and enticing passers-by were Clive’s Triceratops, Bronwen’s Looking Up At Alders and my shelf Deconstructed.

Left Front WIndow

In the opposite window you can see Mandara’s Dragon River and my sculpture Something Like That.

Right Front Window

This is the final slide from my PechaKucha presentation.

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I had hoped to have the video of my PechaKucha presentation by now, but I do not have it.  I will post it when I get it.

Day 1 of Artwalk

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Even though it rained for the first half of Artwalk today (Saturday), attendance was strong at Gallery Bistro.  Engagement was high and the gallery was very busy for most of the day.  Over 250 people visited the gallery in five hours, many of whom came back for a second (or third or fourth) look while others promised to return the next day.

I took half a minute to shoot this quick video to give you a feel for the venue.

Sunday’s forecast is predicting nice weather so I’m expecting an even stronger turnout tomorrow.  I hope to see you there!

In Preparation of Artwalk

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Art is Now in the Trees

I’ve installed Reaper in the tree outside of Gallery Bistro, where I’ll be showing my work during Artwalk.  I made signs for it, too.

Reaper Installed

I’ve also installed Graft (table in a tree) and more signs.

Graft Installed

Newspaper Publicity I, along with Reaper was featured on the front page of the Arts section of Tri-City News in print and online.  (Also included with the online article is a list of all the artists, what they do, and their venue at which they’ll be exhibiting.)

Chris Wong and Reaper

Updates to my Store and Gallery

I’ve updated my Store to include Reaper and Graft, each of which will be on a silent auction April 13-14, as well as my recently completed sculpture which is currently untitled.

Yew Sculpture FrontI also updated my Gallery to include the above three pieces, and the cherry coffee tables.

Cherry Coffee Tables

Featured at Port Moody City Council to Promote Art and Artwalk

My cribbage board was this week’s Art at Council feature piece, shown at Port Moody’s City Council meeting on Tuesday.

Apple Cribbage Board II Front This is the write-up from their website:

Chris Wong is a Port Moody artist who works under the name of Flair Woodworks.

He draws inspiration from the unique characteristics and natural beauty of local trees that have fallen due to storms or building development. Rather than start with a plan, then find suitable materials, Chris starts with materials full of character and develops a design to suit. This process leads to very unique results that maximize the potential of the wood.

Chris’ work comes in many sizes. From small items like the cribbage board we have on display tonight, which happens to be made from an apple tree he found in Burnaby to large items such as free-standing sculptures and tables. All of it has one thing in common: Chris’ flair.

A Busy Weekend Ahead!

Thursday, I, along with three other artists, will begin setting up our work for Artwalk in Gallery Bistro.  Friday I teach a seminar at Lee Valley Tools Ltd. before attending Artwalk’s Opening Reception.  Then Saturday and Sunday feature Artwalk – the main event!

This is the nineteenth slide from my PechaKucha presentation.

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Relationship Study

Table in a Tree

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Last weekend, I met with some of my fellow Artwalk participants and showed them the yellow cedar chair that I’d built to hang in the tree outside The Bistro Gallery where I will be showing my work.

Chair in a Tree

Chair in a Tree

They loved the concept and encouraged me to make another piece for a second tree.  So, that’s what I decided to do.

I documented my progress live on Twitter using hashtag #FlairWW (follow me @FlairWoodworks) which was useful because each update had a time stamp so followers could see the rate at which I progressed.  I compiled the photos and Tweets into a video (duration – 10:21).

This is the eighteenth slide from my PechaKucha presentation.

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Relationship Study

Artwalk 2013

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Friday, April 12th at 6:30pm is when the 14th Annual Artwalk will kick off with the opening reception at Old Mill Boathouse (#3 on the map) at Rocky Point Park.  Then, Saturday and Sunday will feature the Artwalk event.  Most of the venues will be along Clarke Street in Port Moody and in the middle of everything you’ll find The Gallery Bistro (#8) - just look for the chair in the tree!

I will be at the Opening Reception Friday night, then at The Gallery Bistro with my woodwork Saturday from 12-5pm.  On Sunday, I will be at The Gallery Bistro from 12-4pm and after that, at the closing party just down the block at the Queens Street Plaza Main Stage (#10).  I hope to see you there!

Click on the image to view it full size.

ArtWalk Schedule of Events-Centennial Page

This is the sixteenth slide from my PechaKucha presentation.

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Chair in a Tree

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Saturday was a full day in the shop.  After breakfast, I went down to the shop and built 90% of a chair which will be installed up in a tree.  (In case you missed it, here’s the back story.)

ArtWalk Tree Art I documented my progress live on Twitter using hashtag #FlairWW (follow me @FlairWoodworks) which was useful because each update had a time stamp so followers could see the rate at which I progressed.  I compiled the photos and Tweets into a video (duration – 22:41).

This is the fourteenth slide from my PechaKucha presentation.

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Something Like That

Include or Exclude?

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Power carving is unlike working with hand tools because you can remove wood without regard for grain direction or knots.  To me, this is liberating as I can focus on form.

As I work, I constantly ask myself, “Do I want to save this section or obliterate it?  My sculpting approach is to simply remove the parts I don’t like and leave the parts that please me.  I often emphasize form and encourage the sculpture to be caressed by using a combination of hard and soft edges (something I learned from the work of Sam Maloof).

Pacific Yew Sculpture

Although I use an angle grinder with a power carving attachment to establish the rough shape, the final shaping is done with abrasives – first on a sander, then in my hand.  The sanding stage is perhaps the most critical stage of sculpting and I spend more time sanding sculptures than I do carving them.

The sculpture shown here is made of Pacific yew with a concrete base.  It will be for sale in my store when I finalize the price.

This is the thirteenth slide from my PechaKucha presentation.

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