He began by making and selling leather clothing in the early ‘70s and graduated to hunting pouches when he discovered the sport of black powder shooting. Soon he was making engraved powder horns, knives and measures, i.e., the accessories necessary for the complete shooting bag.
His interest in folk, primitive and twentieth century art prodded him to further exploration. Says Birch, “The fold art on American powder horns is some of the best anywhere. The best of it is very strong and universally appealing. Beyond its historical import, it is important American art.”
The horn engraving led to an interest in American primitive art in general and in the late ‘70s Birch began painting.
“I paint between making pouches and horns,” comments Birch. “I found a whole world in there that I’m only now getting time to devote myself to.”
Birch’s most recent work, which he started only this year, utilizes his knowledge of natural materials gained from pouch and horn making and the imagery from horn engraving and painting. “I’m making dolls,” he says. “Some folks are uncomfortable with that word and prefer to call them sculpture. I call them figures. I like doing these. There’s freedom here and yet the work is still traditional in the sense that the materials are and the imagery is universal and simple.”
His ideas for figures coalesced about five years ago when he realized that all the materials from pouches could be used in an art form.
“Five years later I started my first one. I wish the hands worked as fast as the mind.” He expresses. “Now I’m on my eight one and they are occupying all my time. I hope to return to painting part-time because I miss the color.”
The above is a reprint from Muzzle Blast Magazine from December, 1987.
Work that we have posted by Gary include "Little Brother" Jack-in-the-Box, horn container, woodblock print, sculpture,
repaired antique horn by Gary
game bag
horn
bag
additional photos of top bag here
game bag
horn
bag
additional photos of top bag here
All photos this page by Jan Riser.
This is exactly the kind of submission this blog needs more of! To just simply post a photograph is only a fraction of the story. Please, when possible, supply more text, more text, more text. A century from now, these creations will still exist, but the stories by the makers themselves may become lost. Often, it's a difficult thing to get an artist to expound, that's where the journalist needs to step in. Thank you Jan for a great submission!
ReplyDeleteMight Mr. Birch share a painting image or two?
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