Elemental Alchemy: New Work by Wood Turning Sculptor Paula Haymond

Archway Gallery presents Elemental Alchemy:  New Work by Wood Turning Sculptor Paula Haymond on view September 3-29, 2016.  The artist will be available to visit with guests during the opening reception September 10, 2016, from 5 – 8 p.m. with an artist’s talk at 6:30 p.m.

Elemental Alchemy is an exhibition of diverse works in wood, metal, and stone.  At the heart of medieval alchemy was the idea that all matter was composed of four elements: earth, air, fire, and water.

With the right combination of elements, it was theorized that any substance on earth might  be formed. This included precious metals as well as elixirs to cure disease and prolong life. While  Haymond makes no claim to cure disease, she does transform base elements into art.

Using wood, brass, resin, Paua shell, fine silver, gold, opals, turquoise, and gem stones among others, she creates the intricate landscapes and pictographs of imagined ancient cultures.

Haymond often starts with highly figured wood as the foundation of her sculptures.  Using a wood lathe, she creates the designs from which emerge individual pieces which are carved, burned, inlayed and mounted on stone bases.  Haymond has expanded her work from wood to include brass musical instruments that she patinates to bring about a multicolored background for her carving and piercing to shine through.

Haymond is a retired licensed psychologist turned professional artist.  Residing in Katy, she creates sculptures of wood and brass.  Having completed an intensive internship at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft in 2011, she joined Archway Gallery in 2012.  Since then she has had both solo and collaborative shows at Archway Gallery and the Carl Jung Center of Houston.