Reclining Nude
- 18 x 70 x 17 in
- $1,200
- Richard Wilen
Wood
The submitted piece is a bench titled "Reclining Nude, " reflecting the pattern created by the mirror image of the wood grain and the exposed mortise and tenon joinery.
The image was achieved by re-sawing a piece of reclaimed cutoff from a Sequoia tree salvaged from a Eugene property to produce book matched boards. The unique placement of the knots and grain of the wood was an inspiration for the idea of a reclining skeletal nude.
This piece was also created with the purpose of exploring the use of exposed mortise and tenon joints which are known colloquially as a zipper style joint. Here the inlay tenons add to the creation of the artistic image while also providing mechanical connections.
Finally, the use of a waterfall edge for one end of the bench provided a mechanism to create the effect of dangling legs of the skeletal image, enhancing the feeling of a body in recline.
The artistic bench is a prime example of the artist's goal of integrating the character of the wood medium with particular woodworking techniques to produce work that is both utilitarian and aesthetically interesting and pleasing.
- Created: 2022