By Rachel Bucci
In the current members show at the Silverton Arts Association’s Borland Gallery, 16 local artists exhibit work in a variety of media and offer a glimpse of what’s brewing creatively around the region.
Most of the work on view is two-dimensional, in the form of paintings, prints and photos – but two local woodworkers bring three-dimensional pizzazz to the festival.
Jim Boatner is represented in the show with two carved walking sticks, one honed from myrtle wood found along a Southern Oregon beach and another from cedar root. Dave Strand’s work is an almost 180-degree departure from Boatner’s refined and traditional forms. He presents three groupings of whimsical and rough-hewn figurines – wide-eyed sheep and Viking trolls that have a distinct folk art quality.
Strand says that he got the idea for the silly sheep from a woodcarving magazine.
“The golf tees for legs – I thought it was kind of clever,” he said.
Strand said that he took up wood carving 25 years ago, as a way to claim some downtime away from his demanding job.
Featuring more than 80 artists working in a
variety of media, entertainment stage,
international food court, wine and beer garden,
and arts activities.
Coolidge & McClaine Park
Coolidge and Charles streets, Silverton
Saturday, Aug. 21, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Admission is free. Free shuttle and
parking at the Robert Frost School,
301 Westfield, and at the Oregon Garden,
879 W. Main St.
“I think people should do that – it’s important,” he said.
Since then, he’s joined Boatner and about 15 others who are members of the Silverchips Woodcarvers, an informal group that meets weekly at the Silverton Arts Association to practice their craft.
Apart from the social aspect of getting together to carve as a group and share ideas, they also welcome interested adults and children to join in the fun and learn to carve every Wednesday afternoon between 1 and 4 p.m. Several area children are regulars, said Strand, who enjoys sharing the art with youngsters, who learn a variety of skills – from how to carve a form, to improving their manual dexterity, and how to be careful with and sharpen knives.
Strand said that beginners generally start with a 3-inch duck decoy and then move on to more advanced projects. The group charges a fee of $2 to cover the costs of wood blanks. An evening session is held, also on Wednesdays, between September and May.
At the upcoming Silverton Arts Festival, the Silverchips Woodcarvers will demonstrate on both days in the Hands-On area, giving kids and adults an opportunity to try their hand at woodcarving.
The 10th Silverton Fine Arts Festival takes place Aug. 21 and 22. The festival supports itself and raises funds for the Silverton Art Association and its ongoing programs, which include exhibitions and classes for adults and children.
The members’ show is on view through Aug. 29. The Borland Gallery is open Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
