Ornate Picture Frames Sprout Twisted Roots in Organic Sculptures by Darryl Cox

“Winter.” All images © Darryl Cox, shared with permission

In Darryl Cox’s organic sculptures, gnarled tree roots or branches merge with the ornate grooves, patterns, and gilding of picture frames. The Bend, Oregon-based sculptor (previously) continues to explore the material possibilities of wood and its relationship to domestic interiors and the natural environment in the series Fusion Frames.

Cox begins each work by connecting pieces of reclaimed wood to the found decorative objects. “Typically—but not always—I begin the sculpting process at the point of fusion, and move in either direction from there, depending on the piece,” he tells Colossal. “Carving and modeling is a protracted process, so once I have a rudimentary joint, I work on segments at will.” To make formerly disparate pieces of wood appear as though they extend organically from one another, he spends hours meticulously carving, sanding, painting, and staining each piece. The artist retains some of the mosses or lichens that grew on the roots in the wild, further emphasizing the contrast between the finely hewn surfaces of the frames and the rough textures of the raw timber.

This summer, Cox will exhibit his sculptures at Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver in July and Oregon’s Art in the High Desert fair in August. Find more of his work on his website.

 

A wooden sculpture that fuses tree roots with an ornate picture frame.

“Flynn”

A wooden sculpture that fuses tree roots with an ornate picture frame.

Detail and overview of “Lacey”

A wooden sculpture that fuses tree roots with an ornate picture frame.

“Bond”

A wooden sculpture that fuses tree roots with an ornate picture frame.

Detail of “Bond”

A wooden sculpture that fuses tree roots with an ornate picture frame.

Overview and detail of “Jasper”

A wooden sculpture that fuses tree roots with an ornate picture frame.

“Maestro”

A wooden sculpture that fuses tree roots with an ornate picture frame.

“Jacques”

A wooden sculpture that fuses tree roots with an ornate picture frame.

Left: “Titan.” Right: “Joplin”

A detail of a wooden sculpture that fuses tree roots with an ornate picture frame.

Detail of “Jacques”

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Author: Kate Mothes