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Meet the artist: Cody Carlson

Cody Carlson

Hometown: Minot

Where can we see your work?

You can see my work in a number of spots. This spring, I sold some log planters to Flowers Central. They turned out very cool especially when they were filled with succulents. Also my friend Dave and I did a chainsaw carving for a charity event for the homeless coalition put on by Nola’s Lounge. That is still being raffled off. I also put all my latest stuff in my yard at my studio in Eastwood Park. Other then that, it has been tough getting my name out there. I used to think I was just building at random when people started telling me how unique and prized some of the things I would build were. Then I started to view it as art, and it started to evolve even more. If someone wanted to see everything they could stop by the studio were there is a collection of this summer’s arts from a few artists that stayed for a while or go online, and Facebook- Grateful Spaces’ Studio.

Do you have work for sale?

I do have work for sale and I always joked with my friend Dave that everything at my place was for sale except us. And it’s true, I will never go back to punching a clock. Although I am broke and just about homeless, I stand firm that life unfolds in great ways. The best way to acquire artist services is to contact me through the web.

In what media do you work?

My medium is really any raw material I can acquire. I have done stuff with metals, glass, wood and I really enjoy lapidary (Faciting agates). Sanding and clearcoats are my favorite part of any project. Whenever you put two flat straight planes together it really makes your work stand out. Whether it is wood or stone. Right now, I am sculpting with chainsaws and really enjoy it. Also stone inlays are really cool and I haven’t seen them much anywhere.

How would you describe your style?

I would say my style changes with what my end result in mind is with the project I’m working on. Smooth and flat with unique angles are right for a dodge table but not right for a chainsaw sculpture necessarily. Sometimes I’ll mix and mach woods and hardware and call them Frankensteins. Exposed structure and hex bolts I think look cool but not everyone does.

Who would you say have been influences on your work?

As far as influence goes, I really don’t know. I kind of started doing this on my own as a hobby and I let it take over my life. Really the influence comes from what I have to work with I’d say. Then there’s Dave Belling, who got me into chainsaws and sculpting. He should get the credit for that.

Are there particular themes you like to explore in your work?

The journey that led me to where I am now really influenced me. No matter what, I always just wanted to do something better than work. So lots of my first pieces are the way they are because I couldn’t afford to go shopping for hardware or lumber. I would use any and all materials at my disposal and make something out of trash and then put a nice finish on it. Same with collecting agates and minerals. I started collecting them on family vacations and now I am faceting faces on agates, working my way up to a nice lapidary set up for gems. I guess my main theme then would be raw exposed edge next to a smoothie finish so you can see the innards, works well with almost any medium in my opinion. That and three.

What do you most enjoy about the creative process?

I am going to say how it changes and challenges me. Whether it’s keeping my cool cause of troubles or not knowing something is done. That, and the mess, cause I know it’s loud and dusty no matter what I do.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I do not watch television programming, and I do not want to sit with you while you’re on Facebook.

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