Transformational beauty
Posted: February 24, 2010
Joshua Davidson, a member of ASDOH’s class of 2011, began carving wood in 1993 while working as a glassblower. He enjoys working with wood because it is “a terrific surface to alter,” he says. “It can be dyed, shaped, inlaid, painted, carved, etc.”
Davidson says he’s always been interested in pattern and works with wood and creating pattern on surfaces using a wide variety of equipment ranging from typical woodworking tools such as chisels, knives, abrasives, and brushes, to gilding.
[cincopa 10558850]
Gilding, he says, was an entirely different process to learn. “Gold leaf is ephemeral material. Any air movement will cause a piece of gold leaf to float away, and retrieving it is like retrieving particles of dandelion fuzz.” Carving, he says, is meditative. “I spent 70 hours carving a lamp, but I enjoyed the repetitive process. Sure, it was boring at times, but in my mind I could see the final result.”
Although his art and future dental profession may seem at odds, Davidson says there is a direct link between the two.
“Both professions require patience, future vision, and an understanding of materials. The big difference is that wood is inert. Managing a human being is a very different experience.”
Davidson closed his art studio to attend ASDOH, but says that he’ll return to “making objects” again one day.