DON WODJENSKI - About the artist
Having lived near Puget Sound for my entire life, I strive to infuse a sense of Northwest cultural and naturalistic elements into my photographic images and forms. Having lived in Seattle, for nearly 30 years and on Whidbey Island in the Salish Sea for over 40 years, my work reflects both urban and natural considerations. My interests are highly varied. I believe in following my intuition, inspiration, and imagination, taking advantage of circumstances. Travel within North America and Europe has allowed me to consider foreign environments and cultures. Essentially, my work may simply amount to data and material gathering; from which I am able to reflect, recreate and present for other’s consideration.
For many years I have worked three dimensionally, restructuring the photographic image into experiential forms. Photo collage, montage, image weaving, and light transmitting phenomenon have been methods I use to express content beyond a traditional single print presentation. Discovering/inventing my Relight framing method has transformed the way we can look at photography. Combining physical depth with a naturally illuminated image surface, a Relight creates a ‘floating’ effect to the image.
Wax Works are cast and carved vessel forms rendered from wax alloys. Created for a solo show in 2009, they provide me a true three-dimensional creative outlet. As with any crafted vessel, design considerations are vastly different than when working two dimensionally. The medium exemplifies my interest in design of light transmitting forms. Though sharing the vessel form with ceramicists, glass artists, basket weavers, etc., wax has a unique look, feel, and fragility that I find a gratifying process with which to work.
Wooden vessels from the 100 Bowl Project are the most recent addition to the gallery. Woodworking runs in my family. From an early age, I was around men building things. In the 1980's I owned and operated Daedalus Design Furniture and Woodworking. Woodworking has been at the root of my creative experience.
This collection of film and digital images, fine arts and crafts, and commercial work, spanning the past 25 years of professional interests, serves to catalog and exhibit the best of my efforts.