Photo by Greg Klassen
Darren Byers has been building furniture and working with wood for over twenty years. For the past twelve years he has been sculpting and woodcarving.
Darren Byers’ sculptures are located in the United States, Canada and Europe.
DARREN BYERS
Sculptor / Dreamer
You can contact Darren at - 506- 432-6256 or email woodrelic@gmail.com
You can also visit the studio by chance or appointment.
73 Fitzgerald Rd. Wards Creek New Brunswick Canada E4E-4M6
I have worked as a furniture maker for over twenty-five years and as a sculptor/woodcarver for the last fifteen years. Inspiration comes from my surroundings, people and natural settings. Watching, as life continually transforms with light, time, and emotion. I am excited to be able to capture these feelings in time, explore the potential and relate that story to the viewer. I feel constantly drawn to undertake “one of a kind” sculptures. I enjoy discovering the unexpected in the expected, asking questions and exploring new things that challenge and excite me as an artist.
My sculpting journey started in 1994 with the carving of a life-scale crucifix for St. Francis Xavier Church in Sussex. This depiction of Christ on the cross won the Duffy Crowel award for ecclesiastical art. Since then, I have created many pieces for Churches and private commissions. In 2002, I began working together with John and Kathy Hooper, sculpting a large commission for a private school in Los Angles. During the past eight years I have worked with Kathy Hooper on numerous projects. One of the largest of these being the John Peters Humphrey sculpture unveiled in Hampton in 2008. We continue to collaborate on restorations and new work. I also teach sculpting classes and have work displayed at Hooper Studios in Hampton New Brunswick. My work is also shown at the Buckland Gallery in Saint John. The latest show I have been involved with is “Beyond Words”, a group exhibition featuring nineteen New Brunswick artists. The show opened in the summer of 2008 in Saint John, and has been to Fredericton and Moncton. It has been a pleasure working together with this group of talented and knowledgeable people. We are at it again, this time it is called Whisper/Stimulare project and will be opening this fall (2011) Stayed tuned for the dates.
I have been collaborating with artist, Fred Harrison on our latest project a sculpture to honour all who have been killed or injured at work in the greater Saint John region. This piece is cast in bronze and has been installed near the Lilly Lake pavilion. The official unveiling was held on April 28th, 2011 on the Worker’s International day of mourning.
Having just finished a major restoration of John Hooper’s sculpture Balancing this spring and now that it is back in Ottawa, it is time for a few private pieces and a few for the gallery’s. This restoration process took over a year to complete working along with Kathy Hooper, we had our work cut out for us. In the fall we hope to start working on the clock tower and figures of John’s that are outside Market Square in Saint John.
I continue to work on private and public commissions, enjoying the freedom this life offers me to enjoy time with family and friends, to help within my community, contemplate life and react to what I feel passionate about.