The Todd A. Morrow sculpture exhibit will be on display during December at Wes Banco Bank, 415 Market St., Parkersburg during regular business hours of 9 a.m to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.
Morrow, along with friends Geoff Schenkel and Anthony Wilson, formed Resolve Studios in Marietta. He is a member of the Riverside Artist Gallery, but at their Resolve Studio they work side by side, which is beneficial in expanding and testing his vision in all aspects of his art work. Morrow feels that this arrangement will be reflected in his art work in the near future.
Morrow has been sculpting for over 24 years. He is largely self-taught in wood sculpture, but studied stone sculpture under Arthur Fata and Fungai Mwarowa of the Chapungu Sculpture Park in Zimbabwe, Africa. He is a native of Marietta, but spent 10 years in the Air Force, with four of those years in England. While stationed in England he was introduced to a great range of art. Most importantly were the castles, cathedrals and manor houses throughout the countryside. These places were filled with sculpture and wood carvings.
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Morrow
A conversation about hand carved Welsh Lovespoons provided the inspiration for him to try carving and he started with wood scraps. "I really don't consider myself a 'self-taught' carver as I tried to carve, the wood demonstrated to me what would work and what would not," said Morrow. He tries various types of wood in his carvings from milled lumber to scraps. Much of his inspiration comes from life experiences and clues from nature. "An animal, a bird, a reflection on a pool of water, even a shadow, along with the fact that I am using found wood and the results are all the more satisfying," stated Morrow.
He began carving with a pocket knife, whittling on small things like the Welsh Lovespoons and pieces in spired by the old time "hobo's" and their tramp art geometric designs and chains that they carved out of found wood. He has recently found stone to be a very satisfying medium and in the future plans on increasing his focus on this medium.
Morrow's sculptures have been exhibited in galleries in Peterboro, England; North Dakota; West Virginia; and Ohio. He won 'Best of Class,' 'Best of Show' at the North Dakota State Fair; third place for 'Best of Show' - Wonders in Wood - in Dover, Ohio; and Second Place Sculpture at the Parkersburg Regional Art Show, Parkersburg Art Center.
