Three-Dimensional Art on View in August

Evening View of the Blue Whole Gallery

Wood Workers are the  

Featured Artists at the Blue Whole Gallery

     The Blue Whole Gallery during the month of August will focus on two of its premier Wood Workers Carl Baker and Christian Speidel.  Their artwork will be showcased in the Gallery windows, apart of "Art Walk in Sequim", beginning on August 2, the First Friday of the month.  This is your chance to view their three-dimensional works of Art that are created with the use of lathe turning and sculpting.  The results by both Artists reveals the inner beauty that wood contains.  Distinctive grains, colorful patterns, shapes, natural movement and texture come alive in their work.  Each artist has their own individual look and subject matter and the viewer will be rewarded by both.  This is especially true if you venture into the Blue Whole Gallery during the whole month of August to see their creations.  To give you some perspective on these artists, here is a sample of their work and their philosophy in approaching the medium they work in.
                                           

Carl Baker

Natural Edge Maple Burl Bowl (Dia. 15.5")

                     Carl Baker developed his love for working in wood at an early age.  As with most young junior high students of the 1950's he was required to take shop classes and this is where he developed a love for turning wood as a means of artistic expression.  After doing Military Service in the Navy and entering the work force as a clinical psychologist, his hobby of turning wood was put on hold until his retirement.  Settling in the community of Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State he began to direct his attention to studying form and technique with several of the Worlds best known turners.  His love for wood turning took hold and became his passion.

Butterflies & Flowers Pierced Wood Bowl

   Such knowledge along with traveling to most corners of the World where Art is encourage his desire to seek out his own artistic expression has resulted in his wood turning creations.   Here are samples of his creativity.  The Maple Burl bowl pictured above reveals the woods natural colors, intricate patterns, and shape that is captured by the natural edge of the burl.  Such detail is kept by Carl to emphasize natures intricate patterns.  Then Carl goes a step further by turning wood into a bowl that is so evenly thin and then piercing an edge pattern around it.  To add to the delicate nature and lightness of this piece he air brushed butterflies and flowers on to the exterior surface. 

Candle holders

Bottle Stoppers

  Another of Carl's fantastic creations are Bottle Stoppers. This is where the artist sees wood and its potential to become a utilitarian object.  By turning and sculpting the wood the artist is able to find expression and at the same time explore the wood's inner soul to release its potential. It becomes a work of art that is to be enjoyed by the touch and the eye. Also, Carl created wooden candle holders, as pictured to the right, using such distinctive woods as purple heart and ebony. These pieces and others can be enjoy by you when you visit the Blue Whole Gallery during the month of August.  

Redwood Bowl (Dia. 8.75")

   Christian Speidel, a native of rural Wisconsin, has focused on working with woods, and exotic timber for many years.  He sees the unseen as each piece of wood with its special features begin to take form by his ability to release the image through lathe turning, sculpting and mosaic techniques.  He visualizes the inherent beauty that the heart of the wood contains and hopes to release it so that others can respect the art within.

"Octopus" - Maple (Height 11.75" - length 19.5")

"Diving Frog Table"

  This skill by Christian is especially seen in his rendering of "Octopus" which took him two years to make from a maple stump.  This is no mean task.  It is an example of true commitment to his desire to reveal the character that a piece of wood can dictate to one open enough to see.  Such an inspiration is also viewed in his Diving Frog Table which used the texture of wood and its grain to tell a story and yet reveal wood's natural shapes.  This is everything for Christian for wood must share itself with the artist.  He has achieved that goal in these creative sculptures that the Blue Whole Gallery is proud to exhibit so that the viewing public can appreciate & admire it.

Fish Bowl - Spalted Maple

   Through sculpture Christian is able to explore and express the natural warmth and grain of wood in a unique manner.  Such is the case with this "Fish Bowl" that pictures a salmon vividly centered within the bowl. The carved fish is encased by the woods contours of shape and form and becomes apart of nature's living canvas.

Christian Speidel's "Flying Fish Airlines"

    Another great work that Christian Speidel has just completed for the First Friday of August 2 showing at the Blue Whole Gallery, is his creation of "Flying Fish Airlines" . This work of art shows two Sturgeons below with a Tarpon with wings on top and its propellers are salmons.  The wood is Douglas Fir and the stain is Batik silk stain
 
    It is up to you to take advantage of such works of Art by the woodworkers Carl Baker and Christian Speidel.  Take a flying leap of faith and visit the Blue Whole Gallery in the month of August to view such efforts that these artists want to share with you and allow them the recognition they deserve.