WOOD WORKS

Dingee Memorial Hall

Bendigo Woodturners, Eli Beke, Rony Caspi, Brett Igmus Davies, Jason Kerr, Tom Ripon, Joel Sorensen, Greg Stirling, Linton Torr, Damien Wright.

Dark or blonde. Gnarly or smooth. A mere twig or a mighty log. You start with the wood, and it takes you to places of astounding beauty as well as satisfying functionality. This very first WoodWorks exhibition in the striking corrugated iron Dingee Memorial Hall is a gathering of excellence and practical artistry, from the men and women “woodies” of Bendigo Woodturners to a couple of the very best artisan furniture makers in the business, plus everything from hefty chainsaw sculptures to delicate dancing mobiles. There’ll be hospitality provided by the locals, and something special for the kids too. Linger a little longer in Loddon to enjoy the show, time your visit to see a demo, have a chat to a master toolmaker - all at the WoodWorks exhibition.

All day WoodWorks demonstrations. Pyrography, chain whittling, scrollsawing, woodcarving, learn to make from watching. Dingee Memorial Hall.

Bendigo Woodturners: this active and skilled group promotes all kinds of woodworking such as pyrography, scroll sawing, carving furniture and toymaking, with hands-on activities for young and old throughout the community. They’ll be bringing a display of their work to Dingee along with tools to demonstrate some of their crafts. You’ll see beautifully turned bowls and vases, useful platters and trays, delicate scroll saw work, nifty spoons, decorative pieces, unusual carvings, unique clocks, delightful toys, and even very special pens and keyrings. It’s a club that loves wood, and enjoys the camaraderie of making things with wood and showing off their work.

Eli Beke makes his work to be compelling and comfortable; in its form to the eye, practicable in use as touched by a hand and to enrich the life of whosoever it may belong to. Influenced by Swedish and Japanese carved household objects, a self-taught craftsman, Eli combines wood carving, modern metal fabrication and timber joinery techniques. Previously an electrical engineer, his travels by bicycle across Asia impacted his craft, leading him to set up Wedge and Edge studio, offering carving workshops and hand-carved homewares. He also specialises in making tools for woodcarving, that are excellent for beginners and experienced carvers, to make the craft experience enjoyable.

Rony Caspi works carefully to find the beauty in the wood, trying to enhance it while ensuring the functionality of each piece. Using woods such as rose mahogany and blackheart sassafras, Rony creates pots perfect for display, warm and tactile, to complement a flower arrangement or as standalone decoration. This is woodturning that rewards patient examination and a kind of trust that, from the wood itself the shape will be revealed.

Brett Igmus Davis has been sculpting wood for 20 years, entirely self-taught, but studiously exploring a range of styles that have earned him versatility. He’s equally adept at using a chainsaw as a chisel, from big sculptures to his latest creations, mobiles made from all kinds of pods and twigs that dance in currents of air. A keen traveller, Brett has created works in Nepal, Columbia, USA and Guatemala, and his sculptures can be seen all over Australia.

Jason Kerr is a proud Dja Dja Wurrung man, a direct descendant of the great Leonard Kerr who was born at Mt Hope on Dja Dja Wurrung Country around 1854. Jason lives and works on Djandak. He works in ochre and charcoal on canvas and wood. As a performer, Jason attends Welcomes, Smokings and Opening ceremonies where he plays the yidaki. Jason has exhibited in Knuldooorng art exhibition during NAIDOC week, and was shown at the Gurangarr Dja Dja Wurrung Djayi, the inaugural exhibition at Djaa Djuwima, Bendigo’s First Nations Gallery.

Tom Ripon Almost two decades ago, artist Tom Ripon and his wife purchased two acres of land in Clunes and began the process of transforming it from a bare block into a private bushland paradise, and the perfect creative space for Tom to build his signature wire sculptures. Tom’s spectacular creations have become a feature around Clunes, and a number of his brightly coloured animals have taken up residence on the awnings over shops in the town. His work has been commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Zoo and Crown Casino, as well as having found their way into the hearts and homes of numerous private art collectors. He will be showing his Wood Eye works in Dingee.

Linton Tor: Woodworking is more than just a craft—it’s a passion, a journey, and sometimes, an unexpected adventure for Linton Torr from Raw Boards. His story didn’t start in a studio or a workshop; it began in the rugged outdoors, shearing sheep and cutting firewood. Now, at his Raw Boards business in Neilborough, he specialises in the transformation of unwanted wood and timber, creating natural play fixtures, bush furniture and sculptures for public spaces and homes.

Joel Sorensen works with sugar gum and other wood, such as cypress, walnut and oak, salvaged from forest thinning and storm falls. While the wood is still green, he works the surface like a calligrapher, scribbling and carving with chainsaw and chisels. The surfaces are finished with charring, or lime and milk washes, pigments, waxes and tar. His goal is to transform the static material into a composition that is ambiguous, whether figurative or non-representational. Joel’s studio is in Chewton and he is represented by Otomys Gallery in Prahran.

Greg Stirling has been making country furniture over the past 35 years using traditional tools and techniques. He makes a wide range of Windsor chairs, Welsh stick chairs and settees that sit happily in contemporary settings. Greg's influences stem from an extended working holiday when he was 20 to Britain and Ireland where he worked in farming communities which involved some restoration of old buildings. It had a powerful influence on him and on his return to Australia, he started an informal apprenticeship with the late Dickie Blackman, a Melbourne-based master craftsman who originally came from a Quaker farming family near Chipping Norton in the English Midlands. Greg takes commissions for one-off pieces and also makes a range of tables, chairs, stools and benches. His workshop is located near Castlemaine.

Damien Wright is an award-winning furniture designer and craftsman. Working almost exclusively with recovered Australian timbers sourced directly from farmers and millers across Australia, Damien is acclaimed for his unique ‘whole tree’ approach to furniture design — utilising indigenous hardwood species which are not traditionally used to make furniture — and employing rare joinery techniques such as blind-mitred dovetails and thick veneering. Damien works across a broad spectrum of projects ranging from individual furniture commissions, artist-driven sculptural pieces to bespoke commercial installations. His studio is in Melbourne.