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Grand Island artist turns trees into art
A Grand Island artist is doing some amazing work with trees. He does not paint them, but uses them — and his imagination — to create unique works of art. Harold Adams job is turn a piece of wood into a work of art.
"I am going to turn a bowl out of this. And what is going to happen is the rim is going to be high to low," said Adams. Harold is a wood turning artist. "It is taking a block of wood of some sort and putting it on a wood lathe and while it is rotating, I am using a chisel that cuts against the wood," Adams said. For more than 20 years, Harold has been taking rare and exotic woods from around the world, as well as woods from closer to home, and turning them into one–of–a–kind creations. His designs include spiral vases and unique bowls including one of his favorites - square bowls. "I do not turn a round bowl and then cut it off on a saw square. This piece of wood was square to start out with before I turned it," Adams said. One place Harold turns for inspiration for his works is nature. "Looking around at nature you see certain things in nature that interest you. Like this here, you might call this a drop in a pool, creating the waves," said Adams. The great thing about Harold's art is it not only looks great, it is something you can pick up, feel, really put your hands around. "I have signs in my booth that say "Please Touch." And I have gotten in trouble with moms I do not know how many times. "People like to pick it up and they actually stroke them or pet them or feel them. You actually feel the texture. If there is texture in it you feel the finish. And they just love it." To get to the finished work of art though, Harold spends hours with his chisel and lathe, crafting every groove and line just the way he wants it. He has also started working with a new material — oriented strand board — something more often used in house construction. Harold turns it into large vases and bowls. "I cannot say that turning it is my own idea, but I have developed it to a point that it is my style," said Adams. No matter what his art is made from, in the end, Harold says he has to be satisfied with it and hopes those who view it also can find the beauty in it. "When I turn something out that I really like that has turned out perfect, that is when I say, "Wow." Then when I take it to a show and somebody else says, "Wow," that's my pat on the back," said Adams. Harold adds when he takes it inside and his wife says "Wow," that is when he knows the piece will sell quickly. Harold will travel to Newton, Iowa for an art show this weekend and two weeks later will display his work at a show in Omaha. You can also find his wood turnings at the Graham Gallery in Hastings and the Prairie Winds Art Center in Grand Island. You can also visit his website at http://www.haroldgadams.com/ |
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