Alison Crowther

Alison Crowther is a self-taught wood carver whose love of making led her to learn through doing. She works by looking closely at the timber and observing its character and changes as she carves. Alison’s work is a collaboration with the material; beginning with an initial design intent, the piece develops like a conversation, moving back and forth between her ideas and the wood’s suggestions. Her pieces invite careful and detailed observation of the natural characteristics of wood, becoming intimate records of a tree’s history. She embraces art, design, craft and, where appropriate, technology. The words craft and craftsmanship are important to her, as they are tied to quality, skill, and a cultivated knowledge of materials, tools and processes. They also imply dedication and a love for the act of making. She brings together different disciplines—woodcarving, furniture design and contemporary sculpture—and her sculptures demonstrate how inextricably linked these areas are for her as an artist.

This event will take place at Hooke Park, the AA's campus in Dorset.