Celebrating the cleft and the carved

 

Set amidst woodland high above the town of Innerleithen, St Ronan’s Wells Visitor Centre provides a beautifully tranquil setting for a rather special exhibition. In Cleft and Carved, Borders furniture maker and wood artist Adrian McCurdy presents not only his explorations in cleft oak furniture, but also his first exhibition of carved wood panels.

And on Saturday (31 Oct, 2-4pm), Adrian will host a special open gallery day during which he will provide a unique insight into his work.

A rare craft, cleaving wood into furniture has been a mainstay of McCurdy’s furniture making for 20 years, while carving wood panels has been a relatively new direction for someone with a background in Fine Art as well as woodcraft.

“In concentrated periods, this artwork has added something different and special to possibilities of the wooden surface as a subject matter,” explains Adrian. “The artwork is a craft direction free of functional use, yet intrinsically connected to the material I’ve learnt about through making furniture.

“There comes a moment when all lines are sanded away and it is one smooth, rippled surface. Modelled by interior or natural light, the emphasis gradually changes with the passing time of day.”

The work is an absolute delight, with both Adrian’s furniture and his carvings feeling very much alive – full of flow and movement, and the changing effects of the light. We couldn’t recommend a visit to the Wells on Saturday more highly!

Further info

Adrian McCurdy’s open gallery day at St Ronan’s Wells Visitor Centre is on Saturday 31 October, 2-4pm. For much more about Adrian’s work, visit www.adrianmccurdy.co.uk