Functional or not, the wood and pottery work on display at Butterfield Garage Gallery are unique expressions teased out of the respective mediums through the skill and imagination of each artist.
Daniel Callahan-Woodturner
From musician to public school teacher and administrator, to solo sailing parts of the Pacific and Atlantic, to psychotherapy, working with wood has been a constant. Now, approaching seventy-six, having two part-time jobs as a psychotherapist and artistic woodturner, Daniel hasn’t slowed down much!
Working with wood can ... view more »
Functional or not, the wood and pottery work on display at Butterfield Garage Gallery are unique expressions teased out of the respective mediums through the skill and imagination of each artist.
Daniel Callahan-Woodturner
From musician to public school teacher and administrator, to solo sailing parts of the Pacific and Atlantic, to psychotherapy, working with wood has been a constant. Now, approaching seventy-six, having two part-time jobs as a psychotherapist and artistic woodturner, Daniel hasn’t slowed down much!
Working with wood can vary from functional items like houses, cabinetry, furniture, and table items (including tables!). The process includes design, wood selection, and the use of different skills to execute the design. Artistic woodturning begins with wondering what a particular log might turn into: “Turning wood is about having a conversation, paying attention to what a particular piece of wood might suggest as the chips begin to fly.”
For some of us, it also asks for sustainable husbandry, avoiding cutting trees, whether locally or in the rainforest just to make something. But, especially here in the hurricane belt, nature seems to annually offer various local species each time she passes close.
Virtually all the wood Daniel uses is either harvested from trees that need to come down, ones that have come down in storms, or pieces sometimes left on the side of the road. Each log is different; pieces from the same log can vary dramatically. Working with imperfect specimens can find new and unforeseen delights in each piece.
Michael Higbe -Potter
Michael was born and raised in the North Florida Area where he studied ceramics at Florida State College in Jacksonville. He has a love for functional pottery that brings beauty to the everyday. He does both slab work and throws on the wheel. Recently, he produced 40 ornamental clay boxes which were used as awards for a National contest for Winter Guard International held in Ohio this spring. Michael has won awards in Northeast Florida and has shown his work at CoRK, Great Hang Ups gallery in Fleming Island and is currently showing at Butterfield Garage Art Gallery. Michael is married to his lovely wife, Julia, who is an art teacher in Clay County.
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