keeping art in our everday lives!
Wood’s love of stone sculpture began in 1979 while he was attending the Blackhawk Mountain School of Art, when he picked up a hammer and chisel for the very first time. Ever since, his love of stone has driven him to continually push the boundaries on what he can do.
Jerry doesn’t begin his carving with an idea. Instead, he begins by removing what doesn’t belong until he is able to see what lies within the stone and brings it out with a combination of devotion and time. For Jerry, the process of stone carving is a dance of labor and love, experiencing both fascination and fatigue until the image begins to emerge.
Each piece is unique, a one-of-a-kind story that can only be told through Jerry’s skill as he turns the solid into fluid. From animal carvings to female figures, Jerry allows the stone take a shape that mimics other elements of nature, whether it is wind or water.
The inspiration for Jerry’s artwork is derived from the experiences of being raised in those Rocky Mountains, whether it is landscape of wildlife.
Each medium lends it own magic to the creation of his artwork. In his stone carvings, Jerry says “The forms are held within the stone waiting to be released. It is a dance of labor and love, fatigue and fascination as the image emerges. Only by participating in this dance can the beauty of the stone be brought forth for all to see.”
Jerry began his stone carving career in 1979, after attending the Blackhawk School of Art. He earned his Bachelor’s in Art Education from the University of Wyoming. He has been showing and selling his work professionally since 1994 receiving major awards from regional and national shows.
“Round About Trout” recently won Best Sculpture in the 40th annual Western Spirit Art Show at the Cheyenne Frontier Museum in Cheyenne. It is now at WOW Gallery in Laramie.
