Art
Art adrift: How a kayak and driftwood help this adventurer make beautiful art – CBC.ca
It’s an overcast morning and the waters around the small boat basin at Hodge’s Cove — a small outport in eastern Newfoundland — are glassy and calm.
Garfield Stringer stands in the pan of his pickup truck, pulling his wetsuit up and fastening it tightly. He carries a long, thin kayak down to the water’s edge and looks it over, pointing out the various stickers and markings which detail its strange provenance.
Gesturing to some Hebrew on the vessel’s side, he tells us of how he first purchased it from a German man, who himself bought the kayak from an Israeli woman who had allegedly used it to circumnavigate the island some years ago.
Much like his kayak, Garfield Stringer is an interesting composite of stories: a welder by trade, he has long maintained an artistic streak. He discovered an affinity for kayaking nearly 10 years ago.
Now, Stringer has combined these elements into a new pursuit: sourcing driftwood with his kayak and, through his trade skills, shaping the debris into unique works of abstract art.
“I’ve been to beaches that had a thousand pieces of driftwood, and I just searched through it and didn’t find anything,” Stringer said, “but then I’ll go to a beach and kayak, and there’s just one piece of driftwood on the beach, and that’s the piece.”
Most of the driftwood Stringer sources are root systems, which he prefers for their twisting shape and interesting grain. More importantly though, said Stringer, is that when he’s looking at a piece of wood, he’s looking for its story.
“I’m looking at it and thinking: does this thing have a story, or does it not have a story?” he said. “If it just works right for me I’ll keep it. If it doesn’t, I’ll throw it away.”
WATCH: See how Stringer creates his works of art in this video feature created by Conor McCann and Rodrigo Iniguez Becerril:
Meet Garfield Stringer, who uses a kayak to find unusual pieces of driftwood that he crafts into one-of-a-kind pieces. Video produced by Rodrigo Iniguez Becerril and Conor McCann 4:27
In his basement workshop, Stringer has set up a small light box, and not unlike his other endeavours, he’s crafted it himself out of cardboard and wax-paper. Here he takes photos of his creations for his online Etsy shop, where he said buyers are largely approaching him from outside of the province.
“Abstract art is not for everybody,” said Stringer. “It’s not for most people, maybe.”
That particular quality which he said he looks for in his raw material is a sense of still movement, the guiding theme behind most of his work.
“Still movement is important in a lot of these pieces. To me, I feel like each piece is some sort of character, and I want to give the impression that they’re alive.”
Like many others across the province, the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for Stringer and his family. After his wife was forced to shut down her home salon business, she turned to gardening and growing vegetables to keep busy. A welder for the provincial government, Stringer didn’t see too much of an interruption in his work, but said his art helped in those uncertain moments.
“This [art] definitely helped keep my sanity,” he said. “It’s definitely a way to pass away the time if you’re not allowed to go anywhere.
“Either way,” said Stringer, “as long as I’m doing something creative, at least on the weekends, it just gives everything meaning I guess.”
We followed him down to one of his usual spots where he likes to get out for a paddle and see what he can find. With no way to know if the wood he discovers came from the shores of Newfoundland or across the ocean, Stringer thinks that every piece of driftwood he comes across just might have a story to tell.
“Someone could have chopped it down and threw it in the ocean, the tide could have just dragged it out, it could’ve come from England— I mean, driftwood does have a story, it was a tree, it was alive,” he said.
“I just feel like I’m adding the next chapter to that.”
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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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