Michael Elkan Retrospective, |
Existing Work for Sale Gallery of Sculptural Boxes 1979-2000 Furniture Explorations New Work | |
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The balance
subtle explorations of the possibilities to unite material, imagination and hand are as viable and current today as they were 27 years ago. In times of turmoil, this artist's work can bring us back to nature and evoke emotion, perhaps a smile.
The place -- Oregon:
"mist so fine, you must look twice to see it -- you don't even feel it", except you get awfully wet walking through a forest. The plants looking up, drinking the mist -- a bright spot in the sky, sun glistening a little bit, through cloud covers -- and the green, infinite shades. A spot in the mountain's forest, it feels as if the trees and plants want to grow so fast as if to cover us up -- fold us into an almost warm, moist, womb.
The mantra
"eliminate preconceived notions" |
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The material
The stone that the builder refused will always be the head corner stone. The things people refuse are the things they should choose.
-- Bob Marley
Each tree and each part of the tree has an ultimate purpose.
-- George Nakashima
We work this material as an instrument to fashion useful objects, possibly if so willed a thing of beauty -- in any case a joining of the rhythms of nature to fulfill its destiny and ours. -- George Nakashima
The way
"Like my ancestors, I use my eyes and my hands. The eyes to observe nature for form, for material, for function. It is from nature that my creativity derives. The connection with the object and natural phenomenon is constant, rigorous, and faithful. The hands are for defining -- shaped, polished and chiseled -- to be re-seen in concrete form so as to be compared with memory that inspired.
The object
The great beauty of nature's jewels -- gold, silver, diamonds and pearls -- are hidden at the beginning in their rough state. So it is with wood we work the pearls of the forest. Our object is to take this wood with all its history, to learn its ways and make it into things of natural beauty -- functionally organic. | ||
Collections and AwardsSelected Shows & ExhibitsGeorge Nakashima Studio -- New Hope, Pennsylvania, 1980-81 Craft Courtyard -- Oregon State Fair, 1979, 80, 81 From Tree and Plant Show Craftsman Gallery, Scarsdale, New York, 1981 Art Quake Exhibition -- Portland, Oregon, 1981. 83 Philadelphia Craft Show -- 1982, 84, 85, 86, 89 Furniture Makers Juried Exhibit Forestry Center, Portland, Oregon, 1982 Zen Show -- New York, 1982, 83 Craftsman Gallery -- Explorations in Glass and Michael Elkan, 1982 The Real Mother Goose -- Portland Oregon "A Touch of Wood", 1983 "Michael Elkan and Friends". 1989 "Cycles of Nature and Affairs of Man",1993 Spectrum Gallery -- "Out of the Woodwork", Brewster, Massachusetts, 1983 National Juried Invitational at St. Louis Craft Alliance, 1983 "Works in Wood" -- Oregon's Finest Woodworkers, 1983 Gallery Fair Western States Invitational Wood Show, Mendocino, California 1983, 84, 85, 86 Nakashima -- Show at Full Circle, Alexandria, Virginia, 1983 American Craft Council Baltimore, Maryland, 1982 through 89 West Springfield, Massachusetts, 1984 through 89 San Francisco, California, 1984, 1985, 1989 Jack Larson and the American Craft Museum -- "Art for the Table", 1984 American Craft Museum (Opening Benefit Limited Edition Boxes) selected to supply gifts for all volunteers, Elkan Studio Contemporary Furniture Masterpieces Gallery Fair, Mendocino, California, 1987 Northwest Gallery of Fine Wood Working Form Function Furniture, Seattle, 1987, 88, 89 Guild of Oregon Woodworkers, 1987, 88, 89 Collectors & CollectionsGertrude Boyle, Portland, Oregon Susan Burmeister George Bush Sr. Judy Dow, Dow Chemical Company Scott & Pam Gibson, Portland, Oregon Peerce Lake, Baltimore, Maryland Val Kilmer Mark Parker, Nike Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin Dan Rather, CBS Fred Rubenstein, New York City Carly Simon Simpson Investment, Seattle, Washington Steven Swering & Toni Oliver, Portland, Oregon Collection of Nathan Ancell, Ethan Allen Company Edward and Plum Gee Collection, International Paper Company Collection of Judy and Al Goldman, St. Louis Collection of Allen Greenfield, Philadelphia Collection of G. David Jones, North Miami Collection of Jack Lenor Larson Collection of Nancy and Wes Lematta, Camas, Washington Collection of Steven and Navine Michaan, New York Permanent Collection, Warm Springs Museum, Oregon PublicationsReading the Wood by Michael Elkan -- 1990 Oregon Magazine -- Christmas 1982 Fine Wood Working Magazine -- March/April 1983 American Crafts, A Source Book for the Home -- Pearson, 1983 Fine Wood Working -- Biennial Design Book, 1987, 89, 91 Art of Making Elegant Wood Boxes -- Tony Lydgate Creative Designs in Furniture -- Kraus, Sikes Inc. American Crafts -- A Source Book Special AwardsPhiladelphia Craft Show -- Best in Show -- Wood Coconut Grove Art Show -- Best in Show -- Wood |
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For more information email M. Elkan michael@michaelelkan.com or for more information
about Michael Elkan's extraordinary pieces of furniture, contact The Real Mother Goose in Portland, Oregon. We often cooperate with Michael Jesse of Jesse Woodworks. He sometimes shows our work on his website. |
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updated 4 December 2006 : 15:00 (r) Caspar (Pacific) time
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