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Meet The Artist:
My husband and I are retired and have lived on Two Sisters Lake,
North of Rhinelander, since 1998. Last summer we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary with our four married children and thirteen grandchildren. Much of our time is happily spent with family and some of our time allows us to pursue our interest in Native American culture, traditions and art.
Dick’s woodcarving draws inspiration from the Northwest coast
Salish people’s magnificent “formline design” to create highly
stylized images of the animal kingdom. He enjoys the creative work and the fact that all his carved pieces are from the recycled cedar planking of our old dock.
I enjoy the endless possibilities the gourd provides, and the fact that the history of using gourds for practical use and art dates back thousands of years.
When I pick up a gourd to make a spirit vessel or pot I never quite know what the completed work will be….and that’s the joy of it. The gourds shape and heft encourages my direction and the splendid leather dyes determine the colors. I use leather, pine needles, antlers, beads and other odds and ends to decorate – all natural elements usually found up North.
I also like to make Native style leather bags and the Ojibway
Dreamcatchers – again using northwoods material.
Living “up north” has provided us with an incredible source of inspiration as well as ample materials to create our art.
Gail Gumness's
Gallery:
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