REVOLUTION: Art in Chainsaw Carving: Art in the Wood
http://revolution.groeschen.com
REVOLUTION: Art in Wood
The start of the Stagecoach Road Totem pole.
35 foot totem pole in sitka spruce, depicting raven with sun, moon, stars, canoe paddler, whale, foot bear tracks, bear with fish. Commissioned after spending a year on Stagecoach Road working on wind knocked trees. << MORE >>
THE DOG HOUSE COLLECTION
The Dog House. A place for the locals to hang on Whidbey Island. And a museum of sorts for the local carving scene.<< MORE >>
The Canoe Paddler and the Redwood Dugout Canoe
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August 13, 2007
Arcata, California As, I was putting the final touches on the canoe paddler of this 35 totem I've been working for months...a fellow woodworker, Harvey came by to check it out. "Fabulous" he said, and then Charley and I fitted the yew paddle in the hands of the canoe paddler. Harvey yelled out, as we were up about 20 feet, "speaking of canoes, we are launching a repaired Yurok redwood dugout canoe tomorrow in Trinidad Harbor" Harvey worked with a Yurok native, Axel whose father created the canoe back in the 1980's. Over time in developed a sizable crack. Harvey, created 150 dowels, with some gorilla glue and repair wood, viola, the crack fixed.
Inside the yurok canoes' a carved nose brow, heart and kidneys... The following is from the Creation Story of the Yurok people. 'When it came time for the Redwood tree to speak, he said, 'I have wood and a strong heart to give to the people to build their houses and canoes to travel the waters.' And so, our houses and boats have a heart. When the heart of the canoe touches the water, they know one another - they have a relationship.
a historic photo of a Yurok on the Trinity River in Northern California, early 1900's.
The repaired Redwood Canoe, with Skip a Yurok who works for the park service.
Maiden voyage of the repaired canoe...with the key instrumental people responsible for it happening.
the canoe paddler with a yew paddle on the stagecoach totem pole. the yew wood is from blue lake.
FILM PREVIEW
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August 4, 2007
ARCATA, CALIFORNIA, A preview of my upcoming film about the life of this woodcarver...an autobiography of sorts in a 1966 Ford Ranchero. A trip on the road, up and down and around the west coast and the wild wild west.
click here for preview
Music by Sarah Kiefer
TOTEM POLES IN WESTERN WASHINGTON
In preperation for my 30' standing stump I'll be carving in Northern California, I went on a research field trip<< MORE >>
CARVING AND BEING IN NICARAGUA
I'm glad I didn't even really think about going to Nicaragua, I knew intuitively in my soul...<< MORE >>
TREE TRUNKS
They had a tree leaning over the neighbors house. From previous trauma, they were very wary of storms, trees and houses.<< MORE >>
Eye 'n' I of the Storm .... The exhibit
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January, 22, 2007
Arcata, California My inspiration, the power of the wind that knocked these trees down. It was a west wind blowing. My thoughts, to create shields, wind shields, with a Pacific Oceanic feel. Also, I carved discs with welded metal stands on the right, One Drop, Left, Wave. AND some oceanic poles.
With spirals, I played with the negative space and light, resulting in some nice shadows on the walls, a great suprise. A woman interested in buying it, pointed out the shadows. She's also is a midwife, she said it makes her think of the development of a life form.
The next step for the artwork... to possibly join another show, produced by a woman involved with the meterological society who also documented the 2005/6 storm with tons of photographs, including aerial photographs and a short film. The exhibition will also include interactive science and theatre.
THE OPENING OF THE EYE 'N' I OF THE STORM EXHIBIT
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January 9, 2007
Arcata, California It was a storm I went thru. Sculpted a body of work in 3 weeks, endured milling and carving wood in a pond that developed.
Another storm happened which blew my garage studio doors off its hinges, 4 chainsaws disappeared. A hit and run to one of my vehicles occured. More trees fell over including one on the totem. But the show went on and the magic "eye" appeared making everything worth while. It was a vision quest in the end I saw the light.
photo by Josh Jackson/The Eureka Reporter
Click here for photo and article in Eureka Reporter
The magic eye showed at the end of the day. Notice the strange light on the wall.
Photo by Sylvia White
The eye of the sun
THE Eye n' I OF THE STORM
A gallery showing of my work will be at the Westhaven Center for the Arts.<< MORE >>