The Presence of Absence: Exploring the Void in Contemporary Wood Sculpture

CWA held its annual meeting in Chicago during SOFA (Sculpture Objects and Functional Art) on November 9-12, 2006. In addition to viewing (and buying) the art works shown by over 200 galleries, members of CWA participated in the following events:
• CWA, in conjunction with the Chicago Woodturners, sponsored artists’ demonstrations of woodturning and finishing for the general public attending SOFA.

• CWA sponsored an exhibit curated by Hal Nelson, director of the Long Beach Museum of Art in California, entitled “The Presence of Absence: Celebrating the Void in Contemporary Wood Sculpture.” The exhibit presented the works of over twenty artists exploring negative space, or the “presence of absence,” as an integral part of contemporary wood sculpture. CWA members staffed the exhibit and talked to SOFA attendees about studio wood art and collecting.

• As part of the SOFA Lecture Series, CWA sponsored two panels. Hal Nelson chaired a panel in which artists with work in “The Presence of Absence” talked about their work. Also, Hal Nelson, Kevin Wallace, independent curator, and William Hunter, artist, discussed the staging of a retrospective exhibit of Hunter’s work at the Long Beach Museum of Art.

• Members and guests gathered for a dinner and honored William Hunter with the CWA Lifetime Achievement Award.

• Some CWA members visited two Chicago art galleries that specialize in studio wood art and furniture. The members also visited the home of a collector and enjoyed lunch there.

• The Board of CWA and members also held meetings during SOFA.