Dale Lewis
Artist Dale Lewis stands with one of his pieces, titled “Claw & Order: UFO.” Photo courtesy of Dale Lewis.
Artists Incorporated Art Gallery, located in the “Little Red Barn” on Morgan Drive in Vestavia Hills, displays work from more than 50 local artists. On the first Friday of each month, the public is invited to a Featured Artist reception to enjoy refreshments and meet the artists. This month’s featured artist is Dale Lewis.
For more, visit artistsincorporated.com.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in Hueytown and have lived in several communities around Birmingham. For the last 12 years, I have lived in Oneonta on five acres near Easley Covered Bridge with my studio about 80 feet from my home.
I am 74 years young, relatively handsome, and married to Carol for 35 years. We have two grown daughters, Delia and Whitney, and two granddaughters, Farley and Sloane.
After graduating from the University of Alabama, I worked as a technical illustrator until 1964 when I became a producer-director for Educational TV and Birmingham Board of Education TV. The most satisfying experiences there were creating programs for children. I wrote scripts, designed sets, created characters and directed the action. These activities, as it turned out, were inspirations for my present work. After 13 years there, I began a position at UAB where I designed various media. Early in that tenure, I visited a contemporary furniture maker’s studio and was so inspired that I immediately knew that this was for me and would be my lifelong pursuit. It consumed my spare time until after 17 years I retired to create my art full time.
Describe what type of art you do.
My early pieces began with function as a major concern but with my own imaginative twist and quirky view of the world. As my work evolved, function, while important, gave way to my voice. The surreal became more evident, and I visited some strange places.
My pieces are usually whimsical and colorful. They range from tables with ladies’ legs and high heels to chairs with human and animal-like heads and body parts and most anything in between. Some pieces pay tribute to famous artists. Form is paramount in my work, and every element is carefully sketched and developed.
Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspirations are endless. Of course forms that I see every day speak to me. I am a punster and I love wordplay, and often these guide my visions of the piece I am creating. Each piece has a name that speaks to its existence. Sometimes the name comes first and sometimes it becomes evident after studying the piece. The names are often cleverly misspelled. I have been accused of having my own language.
What do you enjoy the most about creating your art?
The process of creating my art is pure enjoyment. I get excited when a new vision is revealed. Usually I do a quick sketch, then refine it and start looking for materials to do a pattern and then the wood to be used. Often I draw directly on the wood and watch the vision unfold as I manipulate the material by sawing, shaping, carving and sanding. It is a great thrill to watch my creation come to life as I apply the finish and stroke it to perfection.
What is the greatest compliment you have ever received about your work?
It is exciting yet humbling for my work to win an award or to be selected for a museum collection. I feel so fortunate that hundreds of my creations are prized and are part of public and private collections and will be viewed and loved for years. Perhaps the best compliment, though, is to be told, “I love having your art in my home. It makes me smile and makes the whole day better.”
