~ by Bruce Whittington, The Chemainus Writers
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Alison MacKenzie
with each of the steps in her reduction print of a dragon.
Her hibiscus in acrylic hangs on the wall behind her. |
A bold scarlet amaryllis dominates the wall over Alison MacKenzie's head as we talk. One of her lush nudes hangs in the hall nearby. On another wall, wood carvings by her partner Wayne Brown add a more subtle glow to the room.
"This is where we meet," Wayne explains. "Alison works upstairs, and I work downstairs, and we see each other over a bowl of soup here in the middle." The two have been sharing each other's home and art for about fifteen years, but their work is worlds apart.
Wayne is a carpenter by trade, but a serious car accident in 1997 weakened his left hand so he was unable to work. He had always dabbled in carving, and turned to it to occupy his time. Now he carves many hours every day, and sells his work in galleries and at craft fairs. He is best known for his "Wood Whimseys", portraits in wood that are inspired by the grain and colour of the raw material.
"I've carved just about every kind of local wood," he says, "and Arbutus is the crankiest." Still, he is pleased with the unique look of the wood. All of Brown's wood is salvaged from people's woodpiles or back lots. After careful carving and sanding, he produces the final luster with a quality paste wax.
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Wayne Brown with one of his "Wood Whimseys"
in local hardwood. |
Alison MacKenzie was trained as a graphic designer, but has always been a painter. As a young girl, she remembers the influence of Tony Onley, a family friend in the Okanagan Valley. Most of MacKenzie's work now is acrylic, and her love of strong colours and dramatic shapes is obvious. Her work was recently featured in the "Collaborations" show at the Cowichan Valley Arts Centre.
With a graphics background, she also found herself drawn to the more technical art of printmaking. She likes the simplicity of single-colour linocuts, but has also produced limited edition prints using the reduction process, in which the linoleum plate is altered for each successive colour, thus rendering it impossible to print more.
MacKenzie is active in the local arts community. She is a member of the Printmakers Only Group, and has produced the CVAC Newsletter for longer than she can remember. She works several days a week doing design work at the Lake Cowichan Gazette.
It's an arresting blend: A lanky Wayne Brown produces diminutive, touchable faces in scrap wood, while the petite Alison Mackenzie moves between large dramatic canvasses and intricate prints. MacKenzie says that in their work "there is no overlap", but there is clearly no shortage of inspiration or magic.
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