Artists of the Plains Insights
July 25, 2003
July has started out as a busy month. Art in the Park, held July 5, on the lawn of the courthouse gave folks a chance to walk around and buy the artwork of our members in a true "natural" light.
The June 28-29 oil class taught by Jeff Brooks, Director of the Lincoln Gallery in Longmont, drew nine participants. The two-day class was very informative and fun. A watercolor class will be scheduled later on in the summer or early fall. Also, a class on matting and framing is in the works. Both classes will be taught by Patsy Wollert, artist and owner of Images West, in Lamar.
An art class for kids will be available in August. It will be a one-day class with a variety of art mediums available. The date will be announced soon.
Preparations are underway for the second annual regional art show to be held at the Gallery. Anyone interested in entering art in the show may obtain an entry form at the Gallery during normal business hours. The cost is $15 for three items if the registration form is returned before August 15. Otherwise, the cost is $20 after that date. Prizes will be awarded.
Featured Artist
Most folks know my father, Gerard Bachand, as the man with the little white dog who hangs out the window of the big blue van as they chug around Eads! One would think it would be easy to write a bio on one’s father. I know him pretty well, and therein lies the rub! I bet you didn’t know he used to belong to a motorcycle club as a young man, and ride a Harley! He also raced his motorcycle in rallies during winter on a frozen lake. It used to be quite a sport!
Gerard Bachand is, for the most part, a quiet man. He usually thinks before he speaks and has tried to instill that virtue in me, with limited success. He was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and spoke only French until he entered school at Sacred Heart Catholic School. Now, he can speak his name in French and that’s about all! He and his younger brother, Bob, grew up in Lebanon, attended high school there and both enlisted in the Army. Gerard served during the Korean War. He was stationed on Governor’s Island in New York, and on Cape Cod in Massachusetts working with radar.
Gerard has always enjoyed working with wood. As a boy he learned woodworking from his father, a man he greatly admired. After more than 50 years in the building trade he retired with the distinction of being a Master Carpenter. He would never refer to himself as that, but everyone else acknowledges the title. His specialty was creating custom kitchen cabinets.
When I was growing up, Mum always had something for him to do with wood. He built furniture, did scrollwork for decorations, made great toys for kids, renovated just about every house we lived in, and the list goes on. About 12 years ago he experimented with turned wooden bowls. His bowls have evolved into works of art. His creativity abounds. I still marvel when he looks at an old dead log and sees the beauty of the wood and what it could be. He has great vision in his art. Gerard uses a great deal of local wood, such as elm (his favorite grain), mulberry, cottonwood, apple wood, etc. He also loves working with aspen and "blue" pine or "spalted" pine. The latter two woods are actually in the process of rotting!
Gerard also creates lovely Intarsia, carved pieces, Coat of Arms, pitcher and bowl sets, wall hangings, wooden ornaments, etc. He creates intricate Indian motif bowls and plates. And he tackles whimsy, such as an exaggerated wrist watch style clock reminiscent of something from Alice in Wonderland.
Along with woodturning and woodworking, Gerard is a pretty good colored pencil artist. As usual, he draws outside the box, letting his creativity flow. His subject matter is unique, yet common. You’ll have to stop by the gallery and view his work to see what I mean! He has a decidedly dry sense of humor and it comes out often in his artwork.
Gerard is a quiet man with many talents and good wisdom. He volunteers at the gallery on Thursdays, but he can usually be found up there most days when it is open, or hanging out in his workshop.
Artists of the Plains Art Gallery is opened Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Please drop by and look around. You are always welcome!