Duluth Artist to Display, Demonstrate Wood Art

Duluth resident Fred Wilson will display his wood art and demonstrate his artistic ability on the scroll saw at Suwanee Arts in the Park Saturday, May 21, in Town Center Park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The show, put on by the City of Suwanee and the North Gwinnett Arts Association, celebrates art in all its forms, including two- and three-dimensional art and performance art. Wilson will be among more than 40 juried artists featured in the show. 

While Fred is creating pieces of wood art on the scroll saw, his wife Judy will be helping him man the booth and sell his art. Examples of his animals, birds, clocks, and other images may be viewed at www.pops-shop.com. Popular pieces include wedding and anniversary plaques, welcome signs, coin collector boards, and puzzles. Other themes interpreted in his art include love, home and marriage; faith and religion; the Nativity, medieval and Celtic, native Indian, military and patriotic. “Phunny” signs reflect his sense of humor.

“I have been messing with wood all my life,” said Wilson. “When I retired, Judy asked me: ‘Well, what do you want to do now?’ I took $400 and went to Harbor Freight. Bought several woodworking tools, including a scroll saw. I tried all of them, and when I started on the scroll saw I knew that I had fallen in love with the machine. I am now on my fifth saw.”

Wilson emphasized: “I don't make the wood, I just enhance its beauty.” With the scroll saw, he said, “I can pour all my senses into making the item. It's like tunnel vision. The more of the piece I cut, the more I want to get it finished, but, patience is a virtue, especially in scrolling.”

“Working with many species of wood, different thicknesses, the graining of the wood, picking the right pattern for the right piece of wood -- all are a part of the final piece,” Wilson continued. “When I start putting the final finish on it, the graining and color really start coming out of the wood.” 

“I am always amazed at God's perfection," Wilson said. "I love what I do and, hopefully, it shows in the finished piece. On the other side, if I don't like the piece, we have "designer firewood" to keep us warm in the winter.”

Saturday’s festive show features art booths, roving musicians and other performers, poetry readings, chalk walk art, food vendors, and a 5 p.m. concert by ZydeFunk featuring Charlie Wooten. Art forms represented include pottery, jewelry, painting, woodworking, photography, writing, and more. Admission is free. Town Center Park is located at 481 Buford Hwy. at Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road and Buford Highway. Parking is available at Town Center and along Main Street.

Arts in the Park is sponsored by the North Gwinnett Arts Association and the City of Suwanee. The NGAA, a non-profit organization, was formed in 2010 to bring artists and art lovers together and provide opportunities to increase knowledge, skills and friendships. Based in Suwanee, the NGAA embraces artists of all types and anyone interested in art. At the close of 2010, the organization had 100 members. Follow NGAA on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.