Walter May • 2015 - 2019 • Sculpture
A bent branch from a birch tree capped with a rubber cane tip is bound to a red cane with the tip encased in red wax.
34" x 33" x 36"h. • A section of tree trunk is surrounded by burnt bentwood and supported by a wood bowl.
Installation of "Hermit" and "Chandelier" at Paul Kuhn Gallery
18" x 25" dia. A collection of small oil cans attached to a steel griddle and hung from the ceiling with a length of chain.
A stack of stained and burnt wooden bowls partially enclosed in a glass dome is placed atop an industrial pedestal.
Detail of "Blue Black Stack
34 1/4" x 27 1/2" x 55" h. • A stack of objects described in the title sits on a wheeled platform.
Detail of "Base Bowl Brace Beads Branch Bowl" • 2019
36" h x 4' dia. A chipped cast iron cauldron repaired with bronze attachments. This piece originally shown in 1988, has been elevated by placement upon a wooden "X" shaped platform.
An installation view of "Empty Elevated" and a group of five small sculptures on a narrow table at Paul Kuhn Gallery..
An arrangement of five small sculptures ( "Torch", "Twine", "Spout", "Pipe" and "Dogleg Saucepan") on Table. Installation at Nickle Galleries, 2018.
23.25" h. x 8.25" dia. A blowtorch and a truncated wooden cane are encased in a glass dome.
29 1/2" x 10.5" • A cylinder of baling twine is encased in a glass dome. A burnt wooden cane penetrates both the dome and the twine. A wooden stopper sits atop the dome and partially covers a small tag which reads "Pull here". Private Collection
Spout • 13.25" h x 8.25" dia. A broken spout from a Brown Betty teapot is attached to a piece of natural wood which is displayed on a wooden plant stand. Pipe • 22" h x 11" dia. A white pipe is nestled in a piece of natural wood, which is encased in a glass dome. Private Collection.
Approx. 32" h. x 14"w. x 6 1/2". • A cast iron flange supports a bent branch and an enamel saucepan, A bunch or burnt wood grapes is balanced on the handle of the saucepan. Private collection.
Approx. 14' x 4' x 5" Fifty-one Ball peen hammers rest on 2"x 3" boards supported by cast iron pipe flanges attached to the wall. Forty-three of the hammer handles have blackened steel hammer heads and burnt handles, the remaining eighteen hammer handles are whitewashed with polished heads. Private collection.
Detail of whitewashed hammers.
Front Piece: 8 'L x 2' w. x 3' h. Two 4 x 6" fir beams riding on small casters are bolted around a stone slab. On one side of the slab is piled a lump of cement. Extending from the centre of the sculpture is a 2 x 2" board which supports a small burnt then washed piece of driftwood which acts as a counterweight. Wall Piece: 2' w. 3' h. x 1'd. A pile of cement is laid on a stone slab and covers a the bottom of some kind of tool.
Dimensions: approx: 19' high x 28" diameter at centre of base. 33 bronze hats stacked brim to brim and crown to crown with a cast cement base. Located at Le Germaine Hotel, 9th. ave. and Centre street S. Calgary, Alberta.
Detail view of Hatstack with base.
A wooden branch that has been thoroughly chewed by dogs and a wooden tool handle painted red and yellow are attached to a wood cane by a wrapping made from a metal measuring tape.
A spiral section cut from small tree or vine is wrapped around a thin white cane with a metal ice grip attached to the bottom. A small blue glass bottle is threaded into the base of the vine.
43" h x 5" w x 2.5" d. A partially burnt wooden cane is attached to an aluminum canoe strut painted to resemble birchbark with a burnt knob at the bottom. A wooden file handle with green paint is passed through a metal conduit bracket and screwed into the wall.
Approx. 7' h x 15 ' w x 2' d. A found warped 2 x 4 is bolted to the wall with galvanized iron pipe flanges. Above the 2 x 4 hangs a handmade galvanized extraction duct plugged by a burnt mallet at one end and a burnt bowl at the other.
Detail of galvanized duct with attachments.
6'6" h x 8' w. x 30" d. The remains of a heavily pruned tree is pinned to a perforated metal table by twelve walking canes. The table is covered in plaster and latex paint. All of the canes with one exception have been burnt. Collection of the Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary.
Installation view of "Hooped", "Beam, Bowl, Burl" and "Scavenger and Forager" at the Glenbow Museum.
32.5" w. x 24" d. x 30"h. A burnt bentwood chair is contained in a metal windsock hoop.
Detail of "Hooped".
42" h. x 22" w. x 26" Across the top of a reclaimed wood beam are laid two burnt canes. The canes support a burl and small burnt bowl. Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
8'8" h. x 16" w. x 15" d. A wood plank has been partially burnt and adorned with several wood bars and handles. Attached to one side of the plank is a found handrail made from galvanized pipe.
52" h. x 20"w. x 6" d. A cast iron pedestal supports a block of cedar and a smaller block of steel. Resting on the steel block is a cast bronze bowl containing a twisted wood vine upon which is balanced a sandblasted wood bowl.
Detail of "Dry as a Bone".
101"w. 30" h. x 9" d. The trunk of a poplar tree with a partially burnt hollow interior is pinned to a fir beam with a burnt cane.
Three quarter view of "Good Wood, Bad Wood and a Cane".
45" h x 24" w x 16" d. A block of wood from a reclaimed fir beam is placed on a metal stool. Leaning against the beam is a piece of burnt driftwood encircled by the hooked portion of a wood cane. Across the top of the beam is laid a short length of planed and stained wood from which is hung a blue glass bottle. Private Collection.
Alternate view of "A Proper Walking Stick".
59" h. x 15" w. x 13"d. A sculpture comprised of a heavy steel bracket bolted to a partially burnt laminated wooden slab. The bracket supports a sturdy branch to which is attached a green file handle and a trowel. The construction is placed on a two legged burnt pedestal.
Detail view of "Quintet".
Alternate view of "Quintet".
A short wooden beam which sits at an angle on the floor supports two canes and various copper, steel and wooden plugs. The sculpture can be tilted to feature one side or the other.
View of "Anchor" tilted to display the other side.
17" h. x 21"w. x 7"d. A fireman's axe held in place with a magnet is balanced atop a painted steel compressed air canister. Private collection.
"Warsaw Axe" installation at Paul Kuhn Gallery.
26" h. x 19"w. x 5"d. A trowel is placed atop a cottonwood branch which is connected to a yellow propane canister.
35"h x 70"w. x 16"d. "Underwood" aka "Underbrush" and "Crotch". A bentwood chair sits atop entangled branches. A second chair of similar design but missing the seat, sits over the crotch of a double tree trunk whose top surfaces have been stained different colours.