The newest exhibit on the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum’s (EAGM) project wall space pays tribute to tools and contemplation.
Diana Chisholm, who is the artist-in-residence with the Estevan Arts Council, has numerous wrenches on display through P4973 6Way. Chisholm explained her exhibit during an artist’s talk and reception at the EAGM on March 24.
It’s the first project she has completed since arriving in Estevan last November.
“I spent a bit of time in my father-in-law’s shop, and saw a few unique and interesting older tools and handmade tools,” said Chisholm. “I started thinking about moving, and not necessarily being able to move an entire studio with you, and the tools of the trade for making art.”
Chisholm admits she has been a bit of a nomad, and hasn’t had access to her traditional tools.
“I spend a lot of my time in wood shops or metal shops, and take advantage of the different facilities I have access to,” said Chisholm.
She finished a large show at another gallery early last fall, and so P4973 6Way served as a nice transition exhibit.
“I’ve been working on it more intensely in the past two-and-a-half months, but I started working on it in December,” said Chisholm.
She casted 30 wrenches in total, and the ones that turned out the best are in the exhibit.
“I started with the intention of slip casting and making a two-part mould that I could pour into,” said Chisholm. “The wrench was a little bit too long, thin and awkward, so I ended up doing a combination of a press mold and an end carving to create the pieces.
“All of the wrenches have a ceramic base, and then the surface treatment was traditional ceramic glazes, applying powdered graphite and rubber tire dust. So there’s a few out there (that) actually smell a little bit like tires,” she added with a laugh.
Chisholm played with a variety of applications and surface treatments, and used the time to reflect on her practice and some of the questions that came up about her last body of work.
“Making allows that connection between your mind and your hands to give you some time to think, or to problem-solve with your hands as you’re working,” said Chisholm.
Since she arrived in Estevan, Chisholm has been busy with numerous outreach initiatives, visiting schools, senior care centres and other buildings, while conducting workshops. She has also been working on her own studio practice.
P4973 6Way will remain on display until April 22.
