Contents
Page One:
Samuel K. Anderson
Michael Janson
A Second Ball Hughes Pyrograph
J. William Fosdick Bequeaths a Treasure
Page Two:
Pyros in the News
Sue Walters on Tagua Nuts and Her New Website
The Quintessential Trompe L'Oeil: Pyrography on Money
David Wickenden: Fighting Fire with Fire
|
Lone
Wolf |
There have been so many news items in recent months concerning IAPA
members and other pyro artists we have seen here in the WOM that it
seems we need to make this column a regular feature. There is no doubt
that, thanks to the hard work, great art, and effort of our members and
fellow pyro artists, pyrography has been noticed, accepted, and admired
at a very gratifying rate. Suddenly pyrographic art work is in demand.
It seems we are approaching a time when the medium of pyrography will
not only cease to be an obstacle but may sometimes prove an advantage!
To Mixo Sydenham, IAPA co-founder, what he was concerned was not going
to happen in a cyber community is beginning to happen, that is, that the
community of artists and art work could transcend both across and into
the real world. Cheers, mate. This one's for you.
I almost hesitate to write this column because I know it is
inevitable I will leave out some important news item and probably get
the information wrong in others. If I didn't put in links throughout it
was because of time constraints and because I did not have all of them
readily available. Please send me corrections by private mail so we can
post next time.
For the third year in a row, IAPA European Director Richard Withers of
Wales stopped by Falls Church, Virginia when he came for his annual
visit to the United States. Like the year before, he made an appearance
to give a demo and talk to the Northern Virginia Carvers who were once
more delighted to see him. This year Richard was in the States at the
special invitation of Fox Publishing for their annual spring Open House
in East Petersburg (near Lancaster) in Pennsylvania where he gave demos
and a seminar for them.
IAPA South American Director Benelli had a great year as well. He
recently had a one-man show in Sao Paulo, Brazil and later had a special
exhibition at the International Conference of Dermatologists that he
belongs to. He even wrote a poem and illustrated it for the occasion.
Also in March--a major milestone--Dawn Wasson took a Best in Show at the
Pikes Peak Whittlers with a pyrograph on wood of a lion. A couple of
months later, a layout of her pyro work on endangered species was
accepted for publication in an exclusive specialty magazine, Wildlife
Art.
In May, when Harp Corrigan's first ever portrait was noticed by a radio
talk show host, Harp was invited to talk on the air about his harps and
his pyro art for over an hour. During that time, his art harps
partner Dawn Wasson called into the show and added to the exchange.
Carole Peters work was featured this spring in the Woodcarvers
Illustrated magazine, a first in pyrography for that magazine.
Lynda Gibbs Eaves and her pyro work were pictured in an article about
the Woodstock Wood Show in the Creative Woodworks & Crafts
magazine.
Solar pyro Durf Durfee made the front page of the Grand Rapids Press.
He was quick to add "I didn't go to jail, I was BURNING
WOOD!!!"
The Austrian Embassy in Washington, D.C. hosted a special show for
Jordan Tierney in April to highlight the work she had done in Austria
during her two-month art residency there at the invitation of the
Austrian government in late 2000.
Also in April, Antonio Vargas had a one-man show at a restored XVIII
century hall in Coin (Malaga), Spain. When he told me that it was
thanks to my visit to his website and the ensuing article and E-Museum
exhibit, which had bolstered his courage to do that show, and asked me
to
write the opening comments on the catalogue brochure, I can't tell you
how pleased I was. Suddenly the virtual world met the real one once
again.
Teenager Adam Wickenden gave a speech on pyrography that took a third
place at his school competition in Canada. Totally unaware of
pyrography as an art form, teachers and judges alike were fascinated
with the topic.
Television--yes we've made television as well! One of the judges
at Adam's school is also a local television news reporter. He later
contacted Adam's father for a story and demo on pyrography in a 5-10
minute TV segment about an official portrait and his art work in
general. So many exciting things have happened to David Wickenden in
recent months that I will tell you more about them in the segment that
closes this article.
Both David Kreider on the Carol Duval HGTV show and Betty Auth on the
Lynnette Jennings Discovery Channel show made appearances to talk about
and demonstrate pyrography. And there's more to come.
Vern Robinson's TV Show. Vernon Robinson is Executive Producer
of a new television show of his own! Vern, as you may recall, has been
featured three times in the Woodcarvers Online Magazine, twice for
pyrography. He is primarily a carver of walking staffs, which he
often adorns with pyrography. Vern's new television show is in the
works and he put out the word for talented carvers and pyrographers who
would like to appear. He's already lined up his shows and shooting of
the pilot is done. He's on his way! We all wish him all the best in
this new and wonderful endeavor. Read more about his new show A Chip Off the Ol' Block
linked here. Vern's show is a landmark event for pyrography and
pyrographic artists.
The last entry in this segment is about a new craze in our medium that
has developed among IAPA members--pyrography on tagua nuts. Once Sue
Walters started, Thais Gloor saw the word 'nut' on the IAPA message
board and was so excited she grabbed the first nut she had on hand--a
peanut!--and started right in (did you "happen to notice" his
'little' picture on the previous page?). Now that is one crazed (dare I
say 'nutty'?) pyrographer!
While Sue was in Australia doing her first experiments on tagua nuts,
fellow IAPA member Lynda Eaves in Canada was having a hard time for
health reasons. Sue wanted to cheer her up and sent her a present--a
medallion of a wolf burned on a tagua nut.
Little did Sue or even Lynda imagine what would happen next. At a show
Lynda wished to attend there was a pyrography no color category.
For any category at a show to remain viable, there had to be at least
three entries. Since Lynda generally uses color on her work, she chose
two of her pieces that had almost none and entered Sue's medallion of
the wolf as the third entry. All three pieces took a prize and Sue's
little medallion went on to win Best Overall--a tiny little wolf burned
on a tagua nut slice won the best of show at a woodcarvers competition
in a foreign country.
|
Black Swan, Left |
|
The tagua palm nut Phytelephas Equatorialis is one more of
nature's wonders. It is the plant world's beautiful substitute for
elephant ivory, and for this reason it is often referred to as vegetable
ivory. As if that were not reason enough to like this richly ivory
colored seed from a tagua (pronounced TAH-gwah) palm tree, the fact that
tagua nuts are now being sustainably harvested from the rainforest
floor, providing jobs for people who might otherwise be destroying the
rainforest to make a living, provides one significant reason more.
Tagua Nut Source. Read more about this conservation-based
enterprise at the One World Projects
website where IAPA member Sue
Walters found her source of supplies and pyroengraved five
medallions made from slices of tagua nuts.
Not only is she pleased to support the work that they are doing, Sue
recommends this site because they are the only place she found where she
can get the tagua nut slices she prefers to the whole nuts. According
to Sue, although whole tagua nuts can be sliced by bandsaw or hacksaw,
the nuts often have a pocket in the middle that you won't know about
until you've started cutting, which makes for a certain amount of waste.
For this reason, Sue rates the slices a good value. She also says,
"If people are after slices to try or indeed want good quality
whole nuts and further information on carving and finishing tagua, this
is a good site and the contacts have been very helpful."
Pyrographing designs on tagua nut slices. Sue starts by pointing
out that because this material is oily, burning on it is not consistent,
and obtaining a very dark or black color is very difficult. Another
thing Sue discovered is that slower, cooler burning is far easier than
fast burning, which melts and cooks the nut surface and creates a 'tar'
residue. Sue says, "Tar residue is often present even with a slow
burn, but to a lesser extent and depending how 'black' you are trying to
burn; however, the tar residue can be wiped off easily with a wet
cloth."
Choosing the tagua nut slices. Sue observed that fresher tagua
nuts are harder to burn than the drier ones, because the moisture
content is high with the fresher ones making them too oily. To dry
tagua nuts further, Sue says they "can be placed under a cloth,
under a lamp...like hatching eggs."
Other applications. Although she hasn't tried other media yet,
Sue indicated that "Colour can be used as they take ink well."
Burning tips. Sue said that she does almost all of her work with
the same three nibs (or tips) of her wire-tipped pen (Razertip is the
tool she uses). Mostly she uses a spoon-shaped shading nib for all her
tonal work and more. For sharp lines, she uses a number 7 curved skew.
For example, she wrote, "I used a (spoon-shaped) shader for the
general tone of the horse's coat. It was a matter of laying line after
line of that for an even tone.
(Quite tricky as it's hard to get a decent even burn on these things.)
I found it had to be hot to burn at all, but not so hot it burns too
fast as it creates a sort of 'tar' on the piece that will wash/rub off
later...giving a false impression of the finished result. (Tagua are not
for the impatient.)"
Finishing. Sue ended her notes by advising that both wax and
Danish or tung oil can be applied to protect tagua nut slices from
staining.
Unexpected hazard. Remember that tagua nuts are, after all, the
seed of a plant. Sue learned that lesson the hard way when she had to
pry two of her freshly 'pyro-baked' art works out of the mouths of her
two dogs who apparently could not resist the tempting aroma. Luckily,
tagua nuts' olfactory appeal lessens dramatically once they are cool for
a while.
Experimenting with tagua nuts is just one of many activities Sue has
been involved in lately. She is especially excited about her new
website:
Sue Walters
Pyrography for which she has high hopes, expressed here in her own
words:
"Obviously the first intention is to showcase some of my work. I am
constantly adding new images to the site as they are produced.
I want a site that is non-static.... is constantly changing and being
added to...not only with new work, but also by displaying the many
experiments I do in pyrography. These experiments not only consist of
burning as many
safe materials as I can to see the reaction and explore the
possibilities,
but also consist of heavy experimentation in the visual, such as
texture,
realism, mixed media, colour application and so forth.
I'd like the site to help introduce people to pyrography who have not
known it before....or who think of it only as a crude folk art or craft.
I
would like it to encourage people to try it if they wish. I would like
it to
encourage those who already burn to reach a bit further...to not be
afraid....to rethink pyrography... to show there are few rules and we
are only limited by our imaginations. To demystify the notion that you
have
to be a freak to burn tonal and realism pieces and do this by showing a
visual Diary as I
build
selected works. The In Focus
section also allows people to look close up at pieces that have created
interest in the past, i.e., burning realistic animal fur, etc.
My greatest hope is to show that, in my opinion, pyrography is one of
the most versatile, exciting and unique and underrated mediums in all of
the art and craft world.
The site will be growing rapidly with many interesting features in the
future...including instructional material and an online burning course.
I am open to accepting commissions and I can be contacted via this
email: suewalters@iprimus.net.au"
Newsflash!!! Sue has a small book on how to burn tagua nuts in
the works. If you are interested in getting more information about this
subject, click here on Sue Walters--Information on Tagua Nuts to write to
Sue and get the particulars.
It has been fascinating to research and discover all the applications and occurrences of pyrography, but this story is really one for the records. Although of little interest as a work of art, the piece below by an unknown skilled artist is fascinating in every aspect. Take a look at the following image. First of all, did you ever think you'd find...
|
Liliam Somoza Debayle of Managua,
Nicaragua |
This unusual piece is a trompe l'oeil at various levels. To understand
and appreciate the pyrographic work, it is essential to put it into
context.
The first unusual circumstance is that the pyrographic work was
commissioned in the early 1950s as an image for paper currency in
Nicaragua--their one-cordoba bill, in much the way in the United States
of America we have--predictably--an image of George Washington on our
one-dollar bill. The Nicaraguan case differs in that--not so
predictably--the image is that of Liliam Somoza, the
daughter of the then dictator of that country. Anastasio
Somoza, who--in the way that only a dictator can--replaced the
traditional image of Christopher Columbus on the cordoba with his
daughter's when she was about 20 years old. It doesn't stop there,
though.
It was decided that, although Liliam Somoza is obviously of European
descent, she should be dressed as an American native. The reason for
this decision may well have been political expediency--to make the idea
of substituting the image of a Spaniard (Columbus) appealing by using
the image of a true Nicaraguan 'native'. Her father conceded to his
advisors. However, he chose--instead of having her appear in the dress
of one of the indigenous peoples of Nicaragua--to show her in the dress
of the Sioux tribe of North America. We can only conjecture that
perhaps--in his perception--it would look more elegant or be a
diplomatic gesture to the United States or even a last laugh sort of
gesture. To adorn the piece, chrysanthemums were chosen instead of the
national flower of Nicaragua, the 'sacuanjoche'. The original of this
curiously mounted image served as a decorative item in the dictator's
living room in the presidential palace in Managua.
It looks as though the hair on the subject's head is part of the
photograph, although the newspaper account does not say that. It does
indicate, however, that her braids, the feather, and the Sioux dress are
additions done by the artist.
The newspaper journalist had a photography expert assess the piece and
that person claimed the photograph itself was touched up with pyrography
(which, according to pyrographic artist and photographic retouching
expert Cheryl Dow, would give it a beautiful golden tone). The
background was done first in pyrography and then in oil paints with
vaseline as a medium to give the background a more transparent look.
Finally, the photograph was worked in the technique of illumination. Of
little concern, no doubt, to the journalist was the rest of the piece.
With nothing further to go on from the newspaper account except that the
journalist referred to the whole piece once as a pyrographic work and a
second time as a pyroengraving, I studied the story and the image of the
piece with two other people. We concluded with careful scrutiny that
the entire piece appears done in pyrography. To begin with, we noticed
that two of the chrysanthemums go over the top of the rectangular frame
and one of them goes over the bottom part of the portrait as well,
suggesting that everything is a sort of trompe l'oeil--an optical
illusion created in pyrography and color. The outer edge of the circle
is most likely a pyroengraving; the background of the circle possibly a
pyrographic shading or texture. The chrysanthemums are almost surely
pyroengraved and the photograph's rectangular frame itself is almost
surely a pyroengraving rather than a real frame!
More than sixty years ago, Anastasio Somoza, as President of Nicaragua, began the dynastic dictatorship of the Somoza family in Nicaragua in Central America. His only daughter was Liliam Somoza (the subject on the currency) who later married the Nicaraguan (lifelong) Ambassador to Washington D.C., Guillermo Sevilla Sacasa. Liliam's brother, also named Anastasio, was to take over his father's dictatorship. The latter was overthrown in 1979 when the Sandinistas came to power and in September 1980 in exile in Paraguay, was assassinated by a car bomb. His son, named Anastasio like his grandfather and father, is still in exile to this day and lives in Miami. He would like to return to Nicaragua, but because of his own actions as head of security when his father was in power, it seems a visit would not yet be propitious. As for the currency, as of last year when that newspaper story came out, Liliam Somoza's two sons, who do live in Nicaragua, are trying to have the cordoba once more printed with their mother's image. The last time was in 1953. The idea, never a hit with Nicaraguans when it first came out in 1951, does not seem to have gained much popularity since then.
|
Hell Freezes Over |
Canadian Capt. David
Wickenden of Sudbury, Ontario is enjoying a big
year. The very biggest news is that he and his wife Gina are expecting
a baby as this article goes to press.
The latest news is that Dave, by vocation for 19 years a firefighter
like his father before him, has just been promoted to the rank of
captain.
By avocation and to fill the inevitable down time at the firestation,
Dave took up bird carving then later pyrographic portraits, landscapes,
and wildlifes. His specialty--dramatic works showing firefighters--is
the focus of this article.
Dave inherited the famous original photograph, which was the inspiration
for his most striking work. It was one entitled "Hell Freezes
Over" that shows his father Richard Wickenden and his father's
partner Arnold Sitko covered in ice with icicles on their helmets,
fighting a night fire in subzero temperatures.
He was granted permission to use it for his work from the
photojournalist who took it. The photograph had been deliberately
overexposed to heighten the contrast of the dark night and the blaze
lighting the icicles and the firefighters' faces. That photograph,
which is used by the International Firefighters Association, has been
viewed worldwide.
Dave's pyrograph, like the famous photograph that inspired it, was
getting a lot of attention, including by Ontario's Government
Representative, Honourable Dianne Marleau who was very impressed with
Dave's work.
|
Compassion |
As it turned out, Hon. Marleau opened two very important doors for Dave.
She set up an interview for him to show his work to the curator of the
Canadian Museum of Civilization, which is located across the river from
Ottawa in the city of Hull in Quebec. This is an important new museum
in Canada that welcomes about 4000 visitors a day.
Dave put forth his idea for an international pyrography exhibit at the
museum to highlight his work, other Canadian work, plus work from
artists all over the world. The curator was very receptive to Dave's
idea and invited him to submit a written proposal. With Sue Walters of
Australia Dave is presently working on that proposal to plan a museum
exhibit displaying some of the best pyrographic art work in the world.
They also have an idea to bring public involvement into the exhibit by
including polling as part of the experience whereby the viewers can vote
for their favorite type of pyrography or favorite artist or work, etc.
|
Portrait of a Firefighter |
The portrait above, like his preceding and most recent work "Compassion" and his first work in this series "Hell Freezes Over" show the sophistication of David Wickenden's art. He goes beyond the skill of the gifted craftsman who captures the likeness and captures the story and the emotion in his subjects.
Once more Capt. Dave's talents have come to the attention of people in
high places. Dave has just received approval to do a pyrographic
portrait of Canada's Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Jean Chetien. Dave is
looking forward to his first meeting with the Prime Minister.
A one-man show for Dave. The icing on this latest great cake is
that a reception is planned for the unveiling of the official portrait,
and Hon. Marleau has arranged for Dave to have his other works on
display at the reception hall that day available for the guests to
purchase. Dave is hoping the Prime Minister himself will open the
exhibition.
David Wickenden has branched out enormously in activities related to his
pyrographic art work. To start with, he set up his Northern Illusions web site.
He has work on paper in an art gallery in his
town of Sudbury, and he also shows his burnings on paper at an important
Christmas
art show
(where there are no crafts). He has a table at the Ontario annual show
in September, does demonstrations in schools, has taught one class, and
plans to do more in the future. He has submitted his resume to Vernon
Robinson in the hope of going on his new TV show and will be on a TV
talk
show soon before the presentation of his official portrait of the Prime
Minister.
His advice to anyone with a newly discovered interest in pyrography is
simply, "Jump in and try it." He certainly has taken
his own advice to heart.
It is with sadness I report that IAPA member Ivan Saunders (Kansas Rancher), woodcarver and pyrographer, from Pleasanton, Kansas, USA, died June 15, 2001.
 |
The AuthorKathleen M. Garvey Menéndez learned her pyrography techniques in Guatemala in 1975-1977. Her sister, Artist Sharon H. Garvey, later joined her there to collaborate on a pyrography project designed to promote this art form in the United States by means of a didactic book and a pyrography tool made by Navarro of Mexico.Thanks to the internet, January 2001 marked the beginning of the fifth year of articles on pyrography for the Woodcarver Online Magazine (WOM), started January 1997, and the fourth year of the E-Museum of Pyrographic Art, which opened its virtual doors January 1998. In March of that year, the International Association of Pyrographic Artists (IAPA) was formed and members began meeting on line. Linked from the E-Museum's Café Flambé, which hosts the IAPA meetings, is the Yahoo Groups uniting_pyrographers mailing list, member list, and chat forum set up by IAPA Co-founder Mixo Sydenham of Australia for IAPA members. |
2001, Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez, all rights reserved.
