Sliver me timbers

At the Wood Sculpture Live exhibition people will see artists turning hunks of timber into handsomely crafted pieces. Sophie Bond meets a participant.

John Ferguson soaks a rag in a sweetly scented potion and polishes the smooth piece of pohutukawa wood that curves from its metal base up and over his head. Called Seed, it's one of several pieces of sculpture inside the Dairy Flat artist's large barn of a studio.
"It's only in the last few years that I've got into wood sculpting," he says, as the heady aroma fills the air. "I've sculpted mainly in stone, aluminium and steel, but wood is a lovely medium to work with."
Mr Ferguson is one of 27 artists about to start work on new projects in a live exhibition at Takapuna's Lake House Arts Centre.
Starting today, each sculptor is given a lump of recycled timber and 10 days to craft a piece to exhibit and sell. Mr Ferguson, who also took part in the 2009 exhibition, says he relishes the opportunity.
"It's a fantastic thing to be involved with and very well organised. When you're working alongside very experienced artists you glean a lot of skills and ideas So often we artists work alone and there we're rubbing shoulders with a variety of people."
Last time, he crafted a large, winded figure from swamp kauri. It was the first sculpture to sell and Mr Ferguson had time to produce a second piece, which also sold immediately.
"It's a great creative atmosphere. Every day for 10 days, there's a hive of activity. It's very inspiring and it's hard to put your tools down."
Participating artists choose the pieces of wood they'll work on from a selection laid out for them to view. Mr Ferguson's already got an idea for this year's sculpture, but he's not telling.
Lake House manager Kim Boyd says the exhibition, now in its sixth year, lets people see the tools and talents that go into creating an artwork.
"The art-making process, especially the sculptural one, is something the general public never get a chance to see. This live exhibition is so interactive, you can engage with the artists and ask them questions."
The 27 artists selected come from all over New Zealand and range from newcomers to veterans.
Chipping away
The artists are at work until April 16, 9am to 5pm daily, in the Lake House Arts Centre's grounds, Barrys Pt Reserve, Takapuna. The exhibition of the works will run until May 16 and all works will be offered for sale.