A Story Behind Every Piece

Glenn Dells

I have always had an interest in working with wood. Owning a saw mill I was able to make a few interesting items for friends  Wood is one of the most fascinating mediums. Natures' beauty unfolds with every layer of a log that is exposed.

After viewing an art exhibit by Lars Larson, at the Dominican Center Art Gallery, I was really fascinated with the beauty of the wooden bowls and platters Lars had on display. In the past I did turn some items on a wood lathe but nothing came close to the caliber that this artist displayed.  In talking with Lars, he told me about a group of wood turners that met every month and he invited me to attend. I have been moving forward ever since.

Dan Grubbs

Dan Grubbs, born in Wichita, Kansas, started his career as a home-builder in Grand Lake, Colorado. After moving to Grand Rapids in 1973, he spent twenty-five years in the steel industry, then on to marine product marketing. In retirement Dan returned to wood-working, refinishing antique furniture, and making one of a kind walking sticks. Having access to wooded areas, Dan selects unique material, strips the bark, and applies stains and finishes to bring out the grain of the wood to create walking sticks. Dan works from his home in Cascade, Michigan.

Margarita Solis-Deal

I enjoy photography because it is a way to capture images and experiences that have touched my life.  I would consider myself a beginner in the area of  photography  but always had a love for photographs and the stories they represented.  I was greatly influenced by my father, Andrés Solís, who was a true photographer.  Andrés, an immigrant from Mexico, was 18 when he came to the United States.   His dream was to some day open a photo shop after he retired from Ford where he worked for over 25 years.  Photography was his true passion and as children we spent countless hours reviewing his slides on a Sunday afternoon.  However he passed before he had a chance to fulfill his dream. He never had an opportunity to exhibit his photos at a gallery and he would have  wanted to do so. This exhibit is dedicated to him.  Perhaps through me his dream is fulfilled.