(February 12, 2018) – Having worked with wood as his primary medium for more than 50 years, local Bettendorf artist Steve Sinner has mastered the art of woodturning. A display of his work will be on view at the Figge Art Museum beginning Saturday, February 17.
Steve Sinner: Master Woodturner highlights nearly 30 examples of Sinners solo work and collaborations as well as his innovations within the art form. The works are remarkable combinations of form, material and surface decoration.
Woodturning is the process of fastening wood to a lathe that rotates around a centralized axis, allowing artists to use a series of chisels, gouges and other implements to carve away portions of the raw wood to create symmetrical forms. Traditionally, this process was used to create furniture legs, tool handles and other household implements. Sinner is one of a number of artists who use this technique to create finely crafted vessels. These vessels often have walls thinner than 1/8 inch, transforming rough blocks of wood into elegant forms.
The surface of Sinner’s vessels range from meticulously rendered geometric forms based on algorithms to figurative allegories. These designs are created from a combination of mediums, including acrylic paint, gold leaf, ink and urethane. Other surfaces are embellished by selectively removing sections of the vessel, producing a screen of perforations that allow light to permeate the form.
Sponsored by John Deere Foundation, Wynne Schafer Interiors, Dr. Randy and Linda Lewis, The Singh Group Merrill Lynch and WQPT-TV, Steve Sinner: Master Woodturner will be on view in the second floor Lewis Gallery through June 24.
Companion Programming:
Opening Reception & Artist Talk
Thursday, February 22
5:30 p.m. Opening Reception
6:30 p.m. Artist Talk
Bettendorf artist Steve Sinner presents “An Improbable Journey,” the story of how he set out to gain recognition in the woodturning world. Sinner has dedicated himself to artistic woodturning for two decades, though his passion for and experimentation with woodturning began long before then. In his work, he develops intricate surface decoration using silver leaf, acrylics and ink on vessels turned primarily of maple, walnut or cherry. His works are found in museums, galleries and collections from New York to California, including the Figge Art Museum.
Free Family Day
Saturday, February 24
Activities 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Free admission all day
Join us for fun with the whole family in the Figge Studios. Guests receive free admission all day, along with a selection of activities throughout the museum inspired by the current exhibitions on view. Sponsored by Quad-City Times and WQPT-TV.
About the Figge Art Museum:
The Figge Art Museum is located on the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays the museum is open until 9 p.m. Admission to the museum and tour is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and students with ID and $4 children ages 4-12. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members, and free to all on Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a Happy Hour Menu starting at 4 p.m. each Thursday. The Figge Café is open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visitwww.figgeartmuseum.org.