• Black Spirit Pole 1
  • Black Spirit Pole 2
  • Black Spirit Pole 3
  • Black Wings no. 4
  • Black Wings no. 2
  • Hanging Cairn A
  • Sliced Pole, Black
  • Black Wings no. 6
  • Black Wing no. 3
  • Black Wings no. 5
  • Square Cairn B
  • Y Wings
  • Prayer Sticks: Big Red
Black Spirit Pole 3

John Geldersma

About the Artist

Chiaroscuro welcomes sculptor John Geldersma to gallery with a May 2010 show, "Introducing...." Working with wood, mostly pecan and aspen, Geldersma transforms raw materials into totemic poles, cairns, and tablets. The combination of burned wood (for black) and vibrant sign paint for his color palette brings Geldersma's forms alive with a tribal, elemental feel that is strong and direct.

Director's Note:
I've known John Geldersma since the late 90's and enjoyed working with him at LewAllen Contemporary during that period. It was always an event when Geldersma drove into town from Louisiana with a trailer laden with "Spirit Poles" and "Prayer Sticks." We knew hot gumbo and lively stories about his art and travels would soon be served. His work holds the energy and directness of his personality, and it's my pleasure to be presenting the work again. In the new work featured at Chiaroscuro, many of the forms and colors are familiar to his extended body of work, but a new looseness with form and confidence with the brush pushes this work into new territory. Although it’s hard to tell from the photos, this work is larger than life size and commands the room.