This weekend, at my local makers market, I had a lovely chat with creator Steve Gore-Rowe who makes beautifully handcrafted woodwork and bowls from his studio in Nofrolk. When I talk to an artisan or artist about their work something comes alive in them. I’m not just a customer who does a browse and moves on. I like to know about the work, the inspiration, the method, and the process. In this case, Steve talked about the tension in wood, the different qualities of wood, the grains, the way he works with it, how a bowl will often have a warped appearance if the wood is fresh. I am drawn to the depth of knowledge, the care and passion.
In particular, I like that Steve likes to work with imperfect timber from fallen or storm damaged trees and experiments with shapes and texture. I bought a small oak painted bowl and a beech spoon to use for a salt dish as well as an exquisite delicate offset wooden spoon, which deserves more than just to lie in a drawer.
He had on display a bowl made of poplar wood where the wood had split. Poplar wood is notoriously difficult to work with and fibrous.Many wood turners would have discarded this item, but Steve used this as a feature in a very wabi sabi way, joining the cracks with metal.
Last week I also met local artist Andrew Potruff. In his latest work he uses paint and ink worked into paper left to dry and then cut into squares, each piece being unique and random, with the image evolving as the squares are applied to canvas one at a time. The effect being an allusion to landscape and natural elements. Some reflecting the landscape of flint and stones, others with almost reference to the colour and texture of an old master, like coming up close to a Rembrandt or Turner. Each square rich with its own tones and texture to make a complete piece. The entire work like a landscape and each square its own environment.
Again, I had a long conversation with him and he was delighted to talk about his work with openness and appreciation as many people look and leave not knowing what to say or ask. That morning, I had just tested a new app being developed by the Limina Collective a small, passionate team of mindfulness and arts experts, Limina Collective brings meditation and reflection practices to art museums and online spaces. Their events (and their potential new app) develop sustained looking and deep engagement with art, with a focus on curiosity, wellbeing and personal connection. So, my mind was in an open curious state and primed to look at art and engage on a much deeper level.
I appreciate so much the time, expertise and experience artists and artisans pour into their work. When I engage with this work on much more than a surface level it sparks something not only appreciative in me, but also a desire to look deeper and possibly even find my own means of exploration and expression of my world, even if this is in words, and to share that with others.
While I write this I am listening in the background to this week’s Bandcamp show. Bandcamp is an online record store and music community where passionate fans discover, connect with, and directly support the artists they love. I have discovered so many amazing artists through listening, it’s a carefully curated treat. Their mission is to share the healing power of music by building a community where artists thrive through the direct support of their fans, and where fans gather to explore the amazing musical universe that their direct support helps create.
So whether it is music, art or craft I invite you to go and discover and be curious. And maybe even create something wonderful yourself.