Call and Response Opening Reception

This past Friday evening Liesl and I attended the opening reception of the 'Call and Response' exhibition at Arts Worcester.  The opening was well attended.  Liesl and I have a piece in the exhibition.

The curator of the Fitchburg Art Museum in Fitchburg, MA was in attendance.  He is choosing a few pieces from this exhibition to travel to the Fitchburg Art Museum where they will be put on display alongside their African collection.

Call and Response Statement

The most well known and highly sought after mask of the Songye tribe is the Kifwebe mask.  These masks are typically associated with shapes as well as beautiful textured lines and linear scarifications.  The lines are usually painted with alternating black and white stripes, which give an almost hallucinating effect.  Kifwebe masks can be male or female, with crested comb structures identifying male masks, the higher the crest the more powerful the mask as well as the greater spiritual power of the dancer.
Male and female masks are danced together, with each dancer encouraging the desired qualities of the sexes.

For this exhibition I created a pair of tea lights based on the artistic qualities of the Songye Kifwebe mask.  I based the height of the candle towers on the elongated mouth of the mask.  The candle towers are made out of Baltic birch plywood.  I cut strips of plywood and then turned them on their side to expose the many layers and dark lines of the veneers.  I laminated the strips together to create solid panels that I then used to make the towers.  The lines of the plywood represent the lines of the mask. The candle bases are made from reclaimed pieces of African padouk wood.  The two walnut wedges piercing the top of the candle towers represent the male and female masks dancing together.

Call and Response Candles

I really like how these candles worked out.  The black and white lines of the laminated plywood stripes are bold and striking.  I cut and glued up four pieces to make the candle towers.  I then cut a rabbet around the  bottom to accommodate the base.  I use some reclaimed African padauk wood for the bases.  I used an 1 1/2" forstener bit to drill a partial hole for to house the tea light.  I cut a couple of notches into the top to hold two walnut wedges.

I'm really happy with how these turned out.  I feel they respond to my chosen piece ( the mask) very well, while representing me and my aesthetic.

Plywood Candle Blanks

Once the plywood strips are laminated I rip and crosscut them to size so they'll fit into the jigs I use to create the patterns.  The patterns are made by cutting dadoes and grooves into the boards.  I have three jigs that I use.  The boards fit into the jig and the jig is ran over the dado blades at different measures.  I then use the second jig, turn the board over and pass it over the dado blades at different measures, creating a perforated look.  I then use the third jig to help me cut a miter on both sides.  

Plywood strips

I'm working on my Call and Response piece for Arts Worcester.  I'm using Baltic birch plywood for the lamp tower.  The mask I'm using as my inspiration piece is highly textured with lines and striations.  To mimic the mask I ripped strips of plywood on the table saw and then turned them on their side to expose the veneers (layers) of plywood.  I then laminated the strips together to form panels.