See Saw Dust and Rust

A gallery exhibit with a minimum of painting, very little canvas, and a plenitude of artistic talent–“Sawdust and Rust” is devoted to the mediums of wood and metal. Curator Jennifer Eifert has gathered an A+ display of outstanding work. David Foote is nationally known for his exquisite realistic carving. Local Carol Jean Singleton has amazed us for decades with wooden faces like her “Moses” (above). Dale Lewis has some of the quirkiest and most original carved pieces that seem objects of fantasy but so well done that he won Best in Show at the Montgomery Art Guild Show a few years ago. Woodsman Michael Young loves to carve beautiful fish and makes scrumptious bowls. To have this many top-notch carvers is a amazing feat.

However, wood has to share its limelight with metal in this show. There are eight special pieces by the well-known “Tin Man” from Selma, Charlie Lucas. He manages to make some of the most whimsical figures out of “found metal,” also known as trash. An old beat-up mailbox became the inspiration for”Social Security Lady,” waiting for her check in the mail, and you have to see what he’s done with ironing boards–and it isn’t his ironing.

Also working with “found objects” is Nick Nyberg, who makes the most clever creations out of a combination of wood and metal. This time he brought a “Ride” and a tugboat swimming in water from an usual yet quite UNusual source. Joanne Staley brought a metal man of spare parts. Beth Phillips and Marty Woodall have made some objets d’art from a myriad of sources, too. Beth is the KudzuMama, making everything from trees and fairies to lampshades. Kudzu vines are close to wood. Xander Booker makes tiny wood houses, not for birds, but they could be for tiny fairies, complete with stunning windows to the great outside.

Back to metal, John Wayne Phillips is one of the world’s original metalworkers–an ironsmith. He manages to create beautiful crosses, firemen, and candelabras from good old black iron. Then there are a couple artists who are treading on the outskirts of the mediums–Kathy Atchison has a pastel of a rusty old car, Marty Woodall has watercolors of old cars, while Libby Christensen contributes an international finalist photo published in Best of Photography Annual 2013 of what? Another rusty old car! It’s all about the rust. She also has photos of weathered wood, and photos ON wood–that counts, right? And because Libby is an award-winning seamstress, she made a special lap quilt for the exhibit–made of 3 wood-printed fabrics and 3 gold-printed fabrics. Wood and metal!

Come soon! Most items are for sale, from $22,000 to a bargain of $40. There is surely something to please everyone whether you buy or just enjoy the view. Thanks, Jennifer, for pulling together this incredibly unique exhibit.

Now take the quiz. Can you figure out which is by whom?