ARTIST
STATEMENT
Christopher Cantwell's earliest memories revolve around
wood.As a young child, Christopher's mom found him frustrated
and crying in front of several toy blocks.He flatly
refused her help with the matter, he had his own idea
of what he was building,and he was determined to make
it work.As a 12-year old, his persistence led him to
win first place in the Central California Art League
Young Masters Art Competition for a balsa wood sculpture
he created.By his mid-teens, he was making and selling
furniture and wood boxes.
He
spent the next several years experimenting, making cabinets
and guitars: framing houses, and pursuing a brief career
as a world-renown rock climber.In 1982, the Ansel Adams
Gallery hired him for a large commission of boxes, inlaid
with abstracted scenes of Yosemite.Soon thereafter,
Christopher settled on wood art as his life's work.He
has been making inlaid wood boxes, tables and art objects
ever since.
Christopher
developed exclusive techniques that are not practiced
by woodworkers trained in more traditional realms.The
result is a unique style, with each piece exploring
both angles and curves; nature versus man-made; emotion
and logic; joy versus misery.
Christopher
works with about 100 varieties of wood, with a preference
for the exotic and
unusual."No one believes me when I tell them I
buy my wood from Home Depot, so I have to confess to
a network of specialty wood suppliers all of the United
States."
Each
piece is one-of-a-kind, with elements that are designed
to fit the character of each specific piece of wood."I
work with the wood and my own ideas when I make my designs.Often,
the challenge of using a grain pattern in the best way,
or working with a particular piece of wood, will fuel
my inspiration."
Christopher's
work is featured in private and public collections,
including the ornament
collection of The White House in Washington, D.C.Other
collectors include Dr. Irving Lipton, who was noted
for having the largest collection of contemporary wood
art in the world.
Over
100 galleries and museums across the nation and internationally
have exhibited
Christopher's pieces.Photographs and articles about
Christopher's work have been published in numerous publications,
including Marquis Who's Who In America.
A
full-time wood artist for over twenty years, Christopher
currently resides in Oakhurst, CA.The view from his
house includes 7,000-foot mountains, rolling foothills,
majestic pine trees, and sprawling oaks." I've
had the ultimate California artist experience of sitting
in the hot tub, enjoying the view, and discussing how
customer decisions, in a gallery 2000 miles away, can
be telepathically affected by my mood."
CLICK
HERE FOR A LARGER IMAGE
Bridge
to Hope (shown above)
Granadillo, Indian Rosewood, Mexican Kingwood, Black
Acacia, Verawood, Ebony, Maple, Kingwood, Satin, Pink
Ivorywood
20
x 8 x 12"
$8000.
