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Go for it
David • 5 May 2020
I was asked recently how the studio came about. If I'm honest, I am not sure how I got this far.
I just enjoy making things, mending things, observing things, forming things. I often wonder how others have got through life without the urge to make something physical, that will outlast them, that their kids will value as something their parent made. I want to make others realise how easy it is, and how fulfilling it is, to make something that others will treasure after you are gone.
One of the reasons I moved from making theatre scenery to furniture was that scenery, for all its limitless imaginative opportunity, still ends up in the skip or being recycled. It doesn't last for ever, whereas with sculpture, furniture & photographs, if they are built to last they will always be there, until they fall out of favour at least.
The pleasure for me is taking a material and seeing the potential in it, to instinctively know what I can do with it, and yet still be uncertain and surprised at every twist and turn of the making process.
So if you feel you would like to create, go for it, get your hands dirty, take materials and form them into whatever your imagination sees. And if you need help along the way, get in touch with us, we'll happily give you advice on how to make things happen.
This was a commission for a church in Warwickshire whose crucifix above the pulpit has had an arm missing for some time. The puzzling thing is that no one knows when the left arm came off or what happened to it... The replacement arm, which is only approximately 20cm long, is carved in boxwood; the shoulder area was carved on site to match the figure in the church, as the crucifix itself was too delicate to transport. It will be polished to match the existing figure by a French polisher who lives in the parish. The contact at the church wrote: “Thank you so much for your time, skill and love that you have put into creating the arm for Jesus... I will gladly promote your activities wherever I can. I wish you all the best with your creative project."
This image was kindly sent at the time by the wonderful Sue Carverhill, Arts Development Officer for South Northants Council. It shows the two sculptures by David Snell submitted for the 2012 exhibition at the Heseltine Gallery. It was an honour to have these pieces selected and it was gratifying that John Childs, who curated the exhibition, set the sculptures in such a good position for viewing all round. The furthest subject is titled "Diver" and was inspired by an image of an Olympic diver. The subject in the foreground is titled "A New Life", which is a personal reflection on the joy of fatherhood.
Great to have 3 works selected for the "Art in Isolation" online exhibition at the Heseltine Gallery in Northamptonshire. Each piece has a story attached which the gallery have included with the exhibition. Take a look here: https://www.theheseltinegallery.org.uk/david-snell The gallery is one of the best in the area for contemporary art, so why not support it by becoming a Friend of the Heseltine Gallery?
There's a saying I like: "Comfort a'fore stargazing I always say, but if a man must have a dream let him choose one that's well out of reach, for there is nothing more set to break a man's heart than to let him have his dream."