Art that soars with feathers & swims with fins!

Evening view of the Blue Whole Gallery

    On 1st Friday, April 4, 2014 the Blue Whole Gallery will showcase two of its veteran wood sculptors, Joyce Volmut and Christian Speidel.    Both artists will exhibit their work in the Gallery's windows throughout the month of April.  Each reveals their skills in woodworking and their individual interest in showing those creatures that soar into the sky and those that occupy the oceans.   

 Joyce Volmut

Joyce Volmut

                                          
 After retiring as a nurse, Joyce began her life's hobby, a woodcarver of  birds and animals.  Such an interest started in childhood in Southeast Kansas where she viewed all sorts of migrating birds.  That interest sparked the need to learn as much about birds, their anatomy, feather layout, behavior and habitat. This educational background has served her well in capturing the essence of a bird in a realistic manner. Her work is exhibited in galleries & in competitions. 

God's miracle - Brown Pelican

Mudflat Minister Belted Kingfisher

   Joyce's refined woodworking skills allow her to convincingly show the simple beauty of a bird in a striking moment in time.  The general public can relate to and incorporate the natural habitat and regional characteristics that, like people, birds develop as well.  That is what makes bird watching exciting, and she hopes by showing through her carvings the essence of natures flying creatures, their expression, and their spirit.  In her own words, "to create a successful carving, the wood must become the bird".

"Breaking the Silence"

  Embrace the creativity and exceptional skills of wood carver Joyce Volmut by visiting the Blue Whole Gallery on April 4 and throughout the month .  You will be rewarded by viewing and sharing in her love of birds and animals and marvel at their diversity. 

Christian Speidel

 Christian Speidel

      

      Sharing the spotlight with Joyce Volmut at the Blue Whole Gallery is wood artist Christian Speidel who presents a special showing of his work entitled "Night of Nudibranchs".  These sea creatures are found throughout the world including the Pacific Northwest. Numbering over 3000 species, they are considered among the most colorful life forms on earth.  Their natural diversity in shape & spectacular array of colors have inspired Christian to create wood sculptures for our enjoyment.

 

3 Nudi's

"Blue Meanies"

    A native of rural Wisconsin, Christian has been working with wood for many years. He continues his quest in working with the distinctive elements of various timber species in order to express their three dimensional qualities in his art. Using an assortment of sculpting & finishing techniques he focuses his efforts in presenting an array of forms inspired by nature. In his currents show, he has selected  nudibranchs, a shell-less marine snail which exhibits bizarre, ornate, & sometimes otherworldly body forms and luminescent colorations.

 

Discus

    Expect a wonderful trip to see the sea floor inhabitants captured in wood sculptures by Christian Speidel. His exhibit challenges the notion of diversity in art with spectacular color, shapes and forms.   Expand your mind & enjoy the creativity of both Christian Speidel and Joyce Volmut, wood sculptors sharing their love of creatures that call the sea and sky their homes.   All of this awaits the viewing public beginning on April 4, 2014 and continuing throughout the month at the Blue Whole Gallery. 

Both artists welcome your Contact:

Joyce Volmut  Phone:  785 - 554-6379 or 
at joyce.volmut @gmail.com

Christian M. Speidel  Phone: 360 - 457-6401 or 
at cspeidel@cox.net