Sculptures on show at artist’s studio
Port Elizabeth professional woodworker and artist Nico Swart is exhibiting carefully turned pieces alongside intriguing wooden sculptures at his studio in North End next week.
Swart’s exhibition, Dialogue with Wood, will run from Wednesday to next Saturday October 3 to 6 at his studio, Barenesta, at 22 Dobson Street.
Workshop hours are 9am to 6pm on weekdays and 9am to 1pm on Saturday.
Swart, 65, is a renowned and highly experienced furniture restorer by profession, and so considers himself fortunate to have a large and well-equipped workshop in which to also indulge his creative side.
The exhibition will feature items fashioned from exotic as well as indigenous woods such as sneezewood and wild olive.
Swart is a master at turning pieces of driftwood and other bits of “found” wood into creative and occasionally humorous pieces.
In addition he favours transforming old fence posts into eye-catching sculptural shapes.
Also included is a selection of turned pieces such as bowls and platters.
Swart is a regular and award-winning exhibitor at ArtEC and has had numerous solo exhibition in the Bay over the years, including at the GFI gallery in Park Drive in 2013.
In 2011, he was commissioned by the MBDA for a large wooden sculptor for the foyer of the Athenaeum in Athol Fugard Terrace. This gave birth to The Seated Couple which was completed and installed in 2012.
He has been a member of the Port Elizabeth Woodturners’ Guild almost since its inception and is also the guild’s first lifetime member.
Fuelled by his enthusiasm for the art and a need to share his skills with others, Swart has for some years now also offered formal wood-turning classes to those wanting to find expression through this medium with a difference.For more information contact Swart on 041-487-0487 or 083-299-0298.
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