Craft artist features at The Gallery, Mogo

The past President of Creative Arts Batemans Bay Incorporated (CABBI), he has been active in the wood, metal and stone working crafts for many years and very supportive of interested locals – novices and other practitioners alike.

David’s interest in woodworking was first aroused in the early nineties when visiting a wood turning stall at a local market.

Always upfront and forthright with people, David persuaded a somewhat surprised, and initially reluctant stallholder to conduct a workshop at the local art centre. David says, “From then on I was hooked.”

Over the years, David has immersed himself (and family!) in the craft, collecting wood from as far afield as Echuca in Victoria and training with some of the best people in the field, namely wood turner Richard Raffan and sculptor and wood carver, Torben Jensen.

Most of the objects on display are beautifully turned bowls in different Australian timbers and of different shapes and sizes. A large, almost spherical bowl in river red gum is also embossed around the rim with metal studs. The unique finish of each bowl enhances the subtle quality of the wood grain or burl.

“One of the things I like about working with timber is its very tactile quality – it can appeal to the senses of touch and smell as well as visually,” David said.

David doesn’t just work with wood. Carved out of Hebel, a manufactured stone, is an impressive, prize-winning sculpture on show called ‘Reclining Nude’.

“Hebel is very easy to work with, but not very forgiving. I usually work in abstract and geometric forms, so I had to step out of my comfort zone with the softer curves in this one,” David said.

David’s work can be seen at The Gallery until October 24.

The Gallery is a co-operative venture of CABBI, an association open to local arts and crafts practitioners. People interested in finding out more about CABBI should drop in to The Gallery or phone 02 4474 2243.

Gallery Bodalla opens for the spring/summer season with a beautiful body of work featuring the Tuross river at Countegany by Stuart Whitelaw, passionate paintings of sea and land by Bela Ivanyi, and intriguing still life by Michael Edwards, from Thursday, September 21 to Sunday, October 29.

Jjoin the artists for drinks on Saturday, September 23 at 3pm with the lively music of Julie Brooking on mandolin and Bill Herringe on guitar.