Inside the Studio

Dan Covert in residency at MacArthur Place

Artist Dan Covert placing hand-carved wooden sculptures on a table at MacArthur Place. — Photo by Emma K Creative

Using a range of carving and finishing techniques, these sculptures by Dan Covert created during his Uprise Art x MacArthur Place residency represent the distillation of hundreds of sketches into a curated collection of essential shapes that embrace the artist's hand.

Artist Dan Covert sketching abstract, geometric shapes in a notebook during his Uprise Art x MacArthur Place artist residency. — Photo by Emma K Creative

A close-up of artist Dan Covert's sketchbook with abstract, geometric forms. — Photo by Emma K Creative

Artist Dan Covert carving a wooden sculpture during his Uprise Art x MacArthur Place artist residency. — Photo by Emma K Creative

I start each piece with a plan, but along the way spontaneous things happen that I either lean into or find ways to correct. This dialogue I am having with a tool, a material, or a technique allows for art that’s more alive and unexpected. Along the way, I created a lot of work that I had to continually rework, some of which wasn’t strong enough to see the world. My current approach to creation can be a bit nerve-racking because I am not always in control of where it will lead, but that tension is the point as I explore the duality between intention and the unexpected.
Dan Covert

Artist Dan Covert carving handmade wooden sculptures at MacArthur Place. — Photo by Andrew Paynter

Artist Dan Covert hand-carving a wooden sculpture outside at MacArthur Place. — Photo by Emma K Creative

Artist Dan Covert hand-carving a wooden tabletop sculpture at MacArthur Place — Photo by Andrew Paynter

In this body of work I am continuing to evolve my sculptural practice by exploring new ideas, materials, forms and techniques. There is a tactility to these pieces that is an intentional step away from the processes of mass production toward the notion of craft. I am fighting my instinct to pursue perfection and precision by consciously using tools that show the imperfection of the human hand.
Dan Covert