John Skau's Wood: A Point of Departure
Complete information is available on the Bricolage website
Two years ago, our community lost a highly respected artist named John Skau. John was known internationally for his exquisite sculptural plaited weavings. He was also deeply loved by many people throughout the Piedmont Triad.
Bricolage and Studio B are offering a unique way for artists to create new works using John's materials. The works will be exhibited in Spring 2010 exhibition at StudioB. Bricolage and the Piedmont Land Conservancy, an organization John and his wife, Judy, long supported will receive a portion of the proceeds of the sales.
A Unique Donation
To achieve the unique sculptural forms for which he was known, John would first make the structural components—the ribs & end pieces—out of wood he found or was given by local furniture manufacturers. Over the years he built an inventory of these wood pieces, planning to use them at some point in his art. Unfortunately, John died before he could use all of them and his wife, Judy West, has very generously donated a large number of them to Bricolage. She has also donated most of his veneer strips (the "weavers" in his works).
A Call for Work
Bricolage invites Piedmont Triad artists to create new works using wooden materials that belonged to John Skau, an internationally recognized sculptural weaver and beloved community member who died in October 2007. The Call is open to local artists & craftspeople working in any medium and who demonstrate competency in that medium. Skau’s materials will be offered free of charge first to photographers to visually document the materials and then to other 2D & 3D artists to create new works. Materials include over 500 pieces of multiple shapes, many of them bent or curvilinear forms made from layered hardwood veneers, as well as hundreds of thin stained hardwood strips traditionally used for basket making.
More information about John Skau, the artist, from Piedmont Craftsman and from The American Art Company.
