Walter May                                                                Home 

15.5" L x 15" wide x 18" d.
A pine tree (trunk and roots) that has been washed by the river is adorned with wooden buttons and wooden handles. The tree is hung from the ceiling by a short length of chain.

10" h x 5" w x 9"d.

A wooden pipe suspended from the wall emits a small burl.
Private collection.

Various Dimensions.
One of a series of 14 sculptures collectively titled "Cuttings, Prunings" produced at Chateau Mathieu in Normandy. Each construction is comprised of one or more handles from discarded or broken tools attached to pieces of wood (firewood) previously collected from local trees.

Various Dimensions.
One of a series of 14 sculptures collectively titled "Cuttings, Prunings" produced at Chateau Mathieu in Normandy. Each construction is comprised of one or more handles from discarded or broken tools attached to pieces of wood (firewood) previously collected from local trees.

Various Dimensions.
One of a series of 14 sculptures collectively titled "Cuttings, Prunings" produced at Chateau Mathieu in Normandy. This construction features an Ivy vine removed from a piece of firewood and transferred to a plastic jug.

Various Dimensions.
One of a series of 14 sculptures collectively titled "Cuttings, Prunings" produced at Chateau Mathieu in Normandy. Each construction is comprised of one or more handles from discarded or broken tools attached to pieces of wood (firewood) previously collected from local trees.

Various Dimensions.
One of a series of 14 sculptures collectively titled "Cuttings, Prunings" produced at Chateau Mathieu in Normandy. Each construction is comprised of one or more handles from discarded or broken tools attached to pieces of wood ((firewood) previously collected from local trees.
Private collection.

Various Dimensions.
One of a series of 14 sculptures collectively titled "Cuttings, Prunings" produced at Chateau Mathieu in Normandy. Each construction is comprised of one or more handles from discarded or broken tools attached to pieces of wood (firewood) previously collected from local trees.

Overall dimensions vary.
A four part sculpture commissioned for the 2012 Honens International Piano Competition. This work is arranged on four piano benches and can be exhibited in a variety of configurations. Materials include 4 piano benches, blue computer cable, a metronome in a glass dome, a sheet metal model of a grand piano, children's shoes and speakers.
Collection of Honens

Four benches in alternate arrangement.

An installation of 28 digital photographs (13" x 18") of abandoned campfires with a selection of 10 objects partially dipped in tar and hung from brass bead chain.
Kling and Bang Gallery, Reykjavik, Iceland.

Detail of a deck of cards dipped in tar from the Sleepless Nights Installation.

Detail of baby shoes dipped in tar from the Sleepless Nights Installation,

19' 6" L x 15" dia.
Wooden tool handles are inserted into the trunk of a jack pine wherever there was a knot. The tree is hoisted at an angle by a coated steel cable which is attached to a plastic float filled with buckshot, thus converting the float into an anchor of sorts.

Collection of the Nickle Arts Museum, University of Calgary.

Approx. 50” w x 60” h x 30” d.
Bookkeeper (foreground). Early twentieth century bankers table upon which is mounted a stylized brass trophy head of a stag with curiously flatten antlers. The central portion of the table which previously contained a writing pad has been resurfaced with cracked clay.
"Scavenger and Forager" (background).

Bookkeeper: top view

Tar Mop: 81" L x 23" h x 10.5" w.
Root Mop: 65" L x 10.5" h x 9"w.

A roofers mop dipped in tar with a round wooden support is placed next to a root ball attached to a wooden handle.
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

34.5" h x 76" w x 18"d.
Two bentwood chairs hung upside down on a wall each containing a bundle of sticks.
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

Two pair of black leather shoes each stuffed with a a block of charcoal.

Two umbrellas, each approx. 30" in diameter containing natural charcoal and figurines of brass deer and various other grazing animals.

Installation of 60 (11" x14") digital photographs and "Disturbing Construction" at Gallerie Klimy, Warsaw Poland.

A sculpture constructed of various objects including a bentwood chair, brass stag,tripod, mini DVD player with 3D animated campfire, propane tank with cast metal legs and natural charcoal, and electrical cables.

A sculpture made from a bentwood chair frame, wooden tripod, a large umbrella containing natural charcoal and a brass stag ornament.

An aluminum tripod supports a mini-DVD player which displays a video loop of smoke and flames emitted from the top of a chimney at a lumber mill. A bucket joined to a section of galvanized duct contains speakers which provide a soundtrack for the video. All the components are connected by various cables and wires.

Alternate arrangement of "Pyroscopy" components.

4' h x 8’ w x 10” d

A shelf fashioned from a 1/4 cut birch log supports a tableau of ornamental brass deer. Above the shelf is a row of inverted hammers with whitewashed wooden handles attached to an eight foot long 2 x 3 stud.

13' 6" h x 24" w x 7' d.

A circular stack of firewood supports a galvanized metal duct, which in turn supports a scale model of an early twentieth century incinerator building with an enlarged smokestack. A small non-functional generator is visible within the model of the building.
Collection of the Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary.

"Incinerator" installation at the Nickle Galleries, 2014.

Detail of the model of the "Incinerator" building.

Two frames approx. 8" square each.

Two shadowbox frames filled with burnt matches.

Private Collection.

A three part sculpture composed of a copper float with oak fid, a snail shell atop a burnt pitchfork impaled in a block of wood, and a double bladed axe balanced on a natural sponge.

30" dia. x 42" h.

One component of the three part installation "Float," consisting of a copper sphere and a wooden fid.

68” h x 145"w x 23 d”

A steel pressure tank is suspended from the drain of an industrial stainless steel sink that is supported by steel legs. The sink contains the remains of a slender tree partially buried in ash.

Top view of "Sink".

78" h x 40" w x 26" d.

A frosted wireglass vitrine supported by steel legs contains a pedal powered grindstone in a half burnt, half whitewashed wooden trestle.

Collection of the City of Calgary.

Alternate view.

102" h x 76" w. x 48" d.

Twelve pitchforks and twelve bone china teacups are arranged in a sheet metal display rack. The rack is placed on a pedestal comprised of a sheet of glass, plastic barrels and strapping.
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

18"h x 15'6" w x 6.5" d.

105 claw hammers with burnt handles are hooked over a 15' long two by four.
Collection of the Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary

3/4 view of "Knockout."

140” w x 40” h x 88”d.

A restored metal office table displays an arrangement of snail shells partially covered in sifted ash. Below the table is a carpet of empty sandblasted wooden bowls.

Detail of "Snail Table."

Thirteen snail shells partially covered in sifted ash are placed on a enamelled metal table. A plastic bucket containing additional snail shells is suspended from the edge of the table. Created during the Braziers' International Artists Workshop, in Oxfordshire, England.

The footwear of 27 participants in the 2001 Braziers International Artists Workshop, is placed on a frosted glass skylight above the central staircase of the historic Brazier's mansion.

Alternate view of footwear arranged on the Braziers' skylight.

Approx. 18" dia.

The interior of a metal basin is coated with mortar. A brass deer is suspended from the edge of the basin.

Private collection.

8’ 10"h x2' w x 7'd.

A small stainless steel tripod is linked to a wooden surveyors tripod by a dramatically curved branch

Alternate view of "Transet"

40" h x 8' w x 33" d.

A cracked travertine table top supported by steel legs on which is piled a collection of claw hammers with wood handles.
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

Detail of the sculpture "Damage Goods".