Gallery at Somes Sound | Duncan Gowdy
Duncan Gowdy unexpectedly started making furniture in 1991. Originally an illustration major at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Duncan took a furniture class on the advice of an instructor. By the end of the semester, he changed his major to furniture. While at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, he studied with Michael Pierschalla, Alphonse Mattia and Stephen Whittlesey. Duncan then continued on to graduate school at San Diego State University, where he studied with Wendy Maruyama.
Duncan creates two styles of work: furniture inspired by objects, and furniture inspired by photographs that he takes. Each mode of work serves a utilitarian purpose (with some exceptions), such as a coat rack or blanket chest.
The basic forms of Early American folk art serve as inspiration for Duncan’s object-inspired work. Some of the inspiration is found in tools, hardware, and household objects. Duncan alters the scale of the object to create a piece of furniture.
Duncan likes to make carved panels and casework type furniture for the image inspired work. Much of the influence comes from Japanese prints, scrimshaw, and abstract expressionism. The minimalist forms of Duncan’s casework and panels act as a frame for the imagery. His camera is the main tool for collecting images that form the basis for this work. Duncan crops images and projects an image that is transferred onto the wood. He then carves and stains the image.
Duncan has exhibited his work nationally at venues including Pritam & Eames, The Gallery at Somes Sound, Society of Arts + Crafts, Ohio Craft Museum, Fuller Craft Museum, Currier Museum of Art, and SOFA Chicago.
His work is included in international private and corporate collections.
Bill Truslow images
