Online: September 12 to November 6, 2025
Opening Reception: September 5 • 7 – 9 pm • more info

Wood Sculptures in the Atrium

Growing up in southern Ontario, my mother often told me to go outside and find something to do. One day, on my way out the back door I commandeered one of her paring knives from the kitchen. While sitting on the wooden back porch, I cut my first carving into a stair tread – the letters “RR.” My mother was right! Get outside and do something.

To me, creating split wood sculpture is like being in a forest. Watching tall trees bend to the force of the wind as their branches block the sun, then let it back in. By finding my own path, I discover and learn something new with each step. I let the wood show me the way.

Each piece begins and remains one single piece of wood throughout the complex process of cutting, saturating, carving, splitting and final blade sculpting. Once the sculpture is completely dry, a combination of air and hand brush paint is applied. On average, it takes about 10 days to complete a sculpture. When my walk with the single piece of wood is over, I hold it my hand and reflect on our journey.

Website: robertrileysplitwoodsculpture.ca