T
aking in his work is a visceral
experience; the viewer is
transported to a rugged, rainy
coastline scene - to touch the
rough-hewn and sandy wood,
to smell the brine, to see how each piece
of driftwood fits into the other like an
esoteric puzzle (or to try), to feel the cold,
bleached white bone that is sometimes
delicately inserted into the jaw, to see
how the hind legs are weighed down
with beach rocks to keep the sculpture
properly balanced on the plinth. It’s truly
an experience not to be missed.
When I spoke to Guthrie, he described his
craft as being process driven. Every step
in the process - from combing beaches
with his dog or hiking to finding a name
for the piece - is part of the experience.
The process is what ignites his creativity.
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