Carvings of whimsy to pine for

Fisher Hall exhibit displays Fall Break works

Would chainsaws entice you to remain here for a week? About 10 students stayed in Oberlin over fall break and took an intensive wood carving workshop. Their work is now on display at Fisher Hall. The workshop was taught by Barbara Yates, a visiting artist who was born in Elyria and then left for 30 years. She returned to home base for the workshop, which was proposed by Woodshop Professor Ed Fuquay.

The students were given tools and started to carve in a matter of minutes, according to Yates. The tools used included chisels for detail, grinders and, for the heavy-duty work, small chainsaws. Yates had the students use willow, a soft wood, which is easy to work with. Woodcarving is a cheap art concedes Yates. "People are always wanting to get rid of trees," she said, "so there's always someone who will donate."

Most of the work on display in the show fall under the "hardcore art" category, rather than "functional pieces," both Yates terms. The students' hard work and enthusiasm has translated into wonderful, whimsical eye-candy. Upon walking into Fisher Hall, it is not only the smell of fresh wood that pleases the senses, but also the smoothly cut forms and natural colors. The whole hall immediately takes on an outdoor feel, which makes the small space seem unusually large, as well as inviting.

Most of the student work on display is relatively large too - about two or three feet in height. A common tmotif throughout the show is the human form. The first piece one sees upon entering the gallery is Hannah Logan's "Reaching". A smooth and refined sculpture, it is in the shape of a torso with one hand reaching high into the air, and a calm looking bald face aligned to the right. The wood has a natural dark splotch in it which add to the poignancy of Logan's figure.

Lauren Harkrader's piece, "Say/You don't say" is also a well shaped torso, with one hand cupped to the ear, and the other behind a back crossing its fingers. The face of her piece is slightly raised by small wooden pins and makes for a striking take on the human form. Adam Smith's piece, "Spiral Tree," is a tall, continual curve around a straight base that resembles a gumball machine.

Another interesting piece is "Several Tongues" done by Lauren Maurand. It is a gruesome, almost clown-like face with a large tongue protruding out of the mouth. The face of this piece is crafted well, and the natural colors in the wood such as the dark splotches contrast with the light brown, making its height appear taller. Small spirals are indented all over the piece.

There is a series of larger-than-life matchsticks with vibrant red heads, propped up against the wall. They look ready to be struck. Another intriguing piece is a stained box with a circular cut out in the middle that looks as if it should hold flowers. The handles swing out wide on both ends and have half-moons cut out of them. Yates contribution to the show was "Kundaline," a carving of a small girl, with an old face, holding a snake in her hands that begins coiled at her feet. It is quite a beautiful piece. Most of Yates' pieces incorporate paint, embroidery, beadwork and text. Some of this text, which include clever sayings, conveys her attitude toward her work and a sense of fun. Yates is interested in including goddess and mother figures, which are the subjects of most of her sculptures. One such work is rough, in the vague shape of a gun, entitled "Aphrodite's latest weapon: the love raygun." There are also two carvings of an "Earth Mother" as well as a very striking Eve. Eve stands straight and tall, with a serpent wrapped around her head and extending outwards. Yates has decorated it minimally with beads, feathers and paint.

Finally, Yates has set up what she calls "Manifestation Shrines" which are wooden boxes with carving or painting done on the insides, incorporating beadwork, embroidery, clever sayings or quotes, and other assorted elements. They often depict Aphrodite, Vesta and other women from mythology. Some of the sayings include "I love and am loved" and "I live in a nurturing, happy, mentally stimulating environment."

Yates said that it was a "pleasure working with such smart students" and is "enthusiastic about how the students responded. They did a great job."

Woodcarving is open through Wednesday at Fisher Gallery, located in the Art Building Annex. The exhibition is free.

A productive break: Students got crafty over Fall Break and studied the art of wood working. (photo by Melisa Rose)