We are beyond excited to have two local artists exhibiting at the OMG Art Hub this November/December. Wooden vases handmade by Deep Cove’s own Jeanette Schisler of Coldwell Creations will adorn our table tops and shelves and make the perfect Christmas gift.
Drop by our showroom and pick one up yourself! Coldwell Creations will be exhibiting alongside the West Coast-inspired paintings of Sherry LaFayette.
A CONVERSATION WITH JEANETTE SCHISLER OF COLDWELL CREATIONS
OMG: What was your inspiration behind the pieces in this exhibit?
Jeanette: My woodworking strives to inspire the infinite possibilities of upcycling by celebrating the true beauty in perfectly imperfect castaway materials. To rethink, reuse, reclaim, repurpose, reinvent and refurbish lumber off cuts and wood scraps into vases not only keeps wood out of the landfill but it also reminds us all to celebrate our own dings and dents that make us unique. The reason to toss away an item, like a crack or knot, is
now it’s best feature recreated and supports the circular economy of reusing versus the linear model of “one use and done”.
Every Coldwell vase holds a glass vessel for a forest floor find, a seasonal flower, a herbal sprig or a plant propagation clipping. Just step outside and bring the outdoors in naturally and sustainably with a cutting that suits your home and compliments your natural environment. The simple and organic shape of a Coldwell vase is paired with a cutting that hopefully invites conversation about how a small act, like supporting sustainable woodworking that supports the circular economy, has a positive impact on our planet.
It is my hope that every vase and Coldwell Creation inspires a person to connect upcycling as a means to lessen their environmental footprint and perhaps apply that way of thinking to other daily choices, purchases, and decisions.
OMG: Can you describe your creative process/technique and how you approached making these pieces?
Jeanette: I work with reclaimed wood, off cuts and discards – basically the scarp wood. I look for the dings and dents, the cracks and knots, the parts of the wood that made it unusable and into an off cut. I take those off cuts and highlight what was considered flaws into their best feature and create captivating pieces that may intrigue and inspire or perhaps even offer a new perspective on what is beautiful and valued. Sometimes I know what I
want to make right away from the wood, other times the wood stays put for a while until its new purpose and shape presents itself. It is a process that sometimes even when I have a plan in place it doesn’t always end up the way I think it will.
OMG: What are your plans for future artistic projects or exhibitions?
Jeanette: I enjoy collaborating my work with fellow artisans and am currently collaborating with a jeweler to see what our crafts will create together – stay tuned for that. I also have a custom wall art project I am chipping away at. I am excited to see what direction this may take my work for future creations. I am currently in the thick of the artisan market season where you can find me in person listed on my website so take a look there to see where I will be exhibiting for what remains of 2024.
OMG: Where else can we find your artwork?
Jeanette: You can find my work online, in stores, as well as in person at seasonal markets. You can shop on my online store, follow me on Instagram for seasonal drops and also see my stockist and market locations online. I will be attending Circle Craft, Deep Cove Winter Market and Whistler Arts this holiday season so come see my work, especially the launch of my new wall vases.
