Woodturner Brenda Stein’s work a tribute to art within trees
Release Date: 2/20/2008. Expired: 4/19/2008
“An applause to the tree.”
That is the self-proclaimed goal of the woodworking of Brenda Stein. An idea taken from her first mentor, she seeks to allow the artistic expression of her work to come from within the existing material.
The Visual Arts Gallery at The Renaissance Center in Dickson will host an exhibit of Stein’s works March 12-April 19. An opening reception will be 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, March 14.
“There is a long, rich tradition of woodturning in Tennessee and the surrounding area, said Armon Means, curator for The Renaissance Center. “This stems from both the need for functional objects but also the craft-based mediums so popular in the regional arts. Brenda Stein’s work is a fine example of not only creating art from function, but also of finding and embracing the unique qualities of each raw piece of wood.”
Stein is a studio artist living in Nashville. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin, has trained with woodturning masters Ray Key, David Ellsworth and John Jordan, and was mentored by the late Charles Alvis, who inspired her with his “applause to the tree” goal.
As a woodturner, Stein creates gallery quality art that moves the viewer by combining the beauty of the individual characteristics of the Tennessee woods with a strong form to support that beauty.
Stein notes the importance and connection to “place,” but for different reasons.
“I live and work in Middle Tennessee, an area rich with a wide variety of trees,” Stein said. “By making one-of-a-kind turned art pieces out of felled trees, I not only rescue the trees, but also preserve their essence.”
Environment has always played a role in the formation of an artist in regards to both materials and concepts. Stein is able to take that to its fullest extent by embracing both of those things, which she aims to find already existing in nature. While many artists over the years have made similar claims, the work often becomes something very slick and polished – cleansed of its imperfections. The true challenge that Stein faces head-on is the embracing of these flaws and making them into active and aesthetic elements of the design. Bowls, vases, vessels, all are formed from once living objects in nature. Where the function was once a simple matter of biology, it now is a complex equation of form and function equaling aesthetic beauty.
“My bowls embody strong, classic and substantive form to do justice to the ancient walnut or the sweet cherry tree,” Stein said. “My inspirations are deeply rooted and grounded in the raw material that is the predominant medium of my craft. Our world is full of functional wood products that we rely on for our very existence. I wish to lift each turned piece out of the mundane into the realm of consciousness that inspires viewers to form a deeper connection with the natural wonders on their own lives.”
Stein is involved in the Tennessee Association of Crafts Artists’ School Outreach Program and Cheekwood’s Art in the School program, demonstrating woodturning while educating and inspiring students. She is an advocate for the Nashville Arts Coalition and was instrumental in designing and setting up the woodturning studio at University School of Nashville’s Tibbott Art Center.
She also was featured in a segment on the Do-It-Yourself network highlighting artists and the tools they use. She is a member of the American Association of Woodturners, the Tennessee Association of Crafts Artists and the Tennessee Association of Woodturners.
Her work can be found in select galleries and many private collections including the Tennessee State Museum, the Governor of Tennessee’s Executive Residence, collections of the governors of Michigan, West Virginia, Mew Mexico, Montana and Virginia, and country music artist Keith Urban.
For more information on the Visual Arts Gallery’s exhibit of works by Brenda Stein, contact Means at (615) 740-5545 or armon.means@rcenter.org, or visit www.rcenter.org. The galleries of The Renaissance Center are open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and admission is free.
The Renaissance Center is a fine arts education and performing arts center at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.
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