By Bella Erakko
Being retired, and living in a log cabin on a 250-acre family-owned farm gives wood artist Kent Brown a spacious environment to carve wood into art. In high school, with one semester left and all credits complete, he spent three hours a day in wood shop. And when he worked, it was making wood patterns for industrial parts. Wood has been in his blood all his life.
Today, his wood working world spans several venues. First he’s still a fix-it man. The hospital had him refurb all the maternity rocking chairs. Friends often call on him to give an assist on construction and repair, and there’s the inevitable request for cabinets. But then there’s the wood laying around on the farm.
One day a friend, enthralled by swans, asked him to carve her one. So he did … and he thoroughly enjoyed it … so he made another and another and another. He created a wooden flock. He initially used farm-found wood but today buys 1x12 pine which he glues together and then grinds into shape, either following a pattern he has used and liked, or creating a new pattern. His swans are majestic, full-sized, and lifelike.
But he also has a dazzling display of hand carved lures, often based on impossibly expensive antique ones. Then there are the bottle openers and key chains so brightly festive, it’s hard to lose or misplace them.
The smallest items in his wide repertoire are his rings. He puts the selected wood in a vacuum machine that extracts air from the wood and then sucks in resin with different dyes. From there he creates rings for men and women with a stainless steel insert. Lovely to look at, each one unique, they glide onto the finger and invite endless attention.
Whether it’s a fish or a bird, a decoy or a lure, a ring or a can opener, Kent looks at the wood … and sees art.
A Second Saturday Open House will be held on July 11 from 1 until 6:00. This coicides with similar events being held at the Hannibal Arts Council and Gallery 310. In fact, Kent will be exhibiting at the Hannibal Arts Council as well!
Visit our gallery during the Open House for a free ticket to a drawing for a piece of Kent's work. We will hold the drawing at 5:30. You do not have to be present to win.
Hope to see you in Hannibal for Second Saturday!
