About Lynn Dunn Master Carver
Master carver Lynn Dunn creates wood sculptures that are exquisite works of art. He is an artist who has lived for the passion of his work throughout his life and believes the sculptures he creates are a reflection of the struggles he has faced as an artist and person. “A master carver is someone who has not only the experience to refine the skills of the craft, but also someone who has life experience and sensitivity.” Lynn discovered his life’s passion at a young age, while still at school in the rural Waikato town of Putaruru. Many people tried to steer him away from what would be a difficult path but he followed his heart, travelling and living his life as a wood carver.
Lynn Dunn wood sculptures can be seen in a wide range of locations throughout New Zealand and oversees. He sees the creation of each piece as a spiritual journey that reflects the spirit of the wood, the person who has commissioned the work and his own life. The skill of the master carver is in translating each of these elements while creating a piece that fulfils the original design brief. He is influenced by beauty in the world around him, by his own life’s struggles and by the stories of the people who commission his work. The Maori master carvers of Rotorua influenced his early years and he was also influenced by master carver Bruce Turnbull, whose workshop on the island of Maui, Hawaii was Lynn’s base for several years.
It is the spirit of the wood that provides the catalyst for most of Lynn’s work as he uses what are often seen as the flaws in the wood to create the individuality of each piece. The grain, a knot, a split or the heartwood influences the look and feel of the final sculpture, providing depth and life. “In works of great beauty, sculptor Lynn Dunn carves symbols of his feelings and reflections from the world around him.” Pacific Way – Air New Zealand magazine, November 1995, p.71.
In Living MemoryFaces depicted in the snarled tangle of roots slowly reveal themselves to the viewer, quietly, as if telling their story. It is only time that allows the true intricacy of the design to unfold.
This stunning work was commissioned by the ‘Hoohoo club’, which is an international consortium that represents the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand timber industries. This carving was a gift from the Hoohoo club to the city of Auckland and presented to Dame Cath Tizard at their annual conference.
The carving represents the roots of the timber industry and the four faces that are within it, are the founders of the Hoohoo club. Comments from the club are that it is ‘one of the best representations of their club’ that they have seen. This carving can be found at the entrance of the exit of the Auckland city library.
Jenny Bisley CandlestickThis intricately carved, two-metre high candlestick evokes the spirit of 13 year-old Jenny Bisley who was killed when she was hit by a car.
The work weaves together Jenny’s life, her passions and loves.
Commissioned by her mother, the candlestick takes pride of place in St Peter’s Cathedral in Hamilton where Jenny was a member of the choir.
“I felt the carving belonged to Jenny by the time I had finished” – Lynn Dunn.
Te nohoanga a te teina a te tuakana
Dwelling together - in brotherhood
St Pauls Collegiate article’
| Old Collegian Carves the Story of St Paul's | ||
| Master Carver Lynn Dunn (Williams 1966-1968) carved the symbolic work of are that appears in the foyer of the Administration Block at St Paul's Collegiate School. Lynn begun the process in 1988 by discussing the concepts that were unique to St Paul's with the then Headmaster Mr Lawrence and members of the Board. From these conversations Lynn was able to begin the process of formulating a design of something unique and representative of the School. During this time Lynn found a slab of kauri in a furniture maker's warehouse in Auckland that he felt would help him produce a symbolic mural representing the legend of the School. The design of the carving symbolic of the life of St Paul's |
begins with the pathway into the school grounds with the great oaks on either side. The 18 wings on the spiral represent each founder of the school and also the heart of the school with the rising sun in the background. The symbol of the sun reflects the beginning of the project of the building of St Paul's and the radiating rays represent the path that the School will take to becoming fully created. Trout are featured swimming from the base of the stag head (symbol of Tihoi): these trout are the symbol of natural life. Tihoi Mountain is seen in the background as well as the head of St Paul. The full moon is the final feature and represents the fullness and completion of the buildings of St Paul's. |
Lynn carved this at his home in West Auckland over a period of about three months and then transported it to the School for installation. As a sculptor Lynn is very passionate about all the works that he creates. He continues to embrace wood sculpture not for the money but for the fact that when he comes face to face with a piece of wood it has for him a story to tell. Through the process of sculpting he reveals that story. Recently, we asked Lynn if he would come back to St Paul's and remove the carving ahead of plans for the Administration Block to have a facelift. Lynn has taken it away for safe keeping and also a clean-up. |
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Pacific Way Article
In works of great beauty, sculptor Lynn Dunn carves symbols of his feeling and reflections from the world around him.
Every Sunday morning, an intricately carved candlestick is lit in St Peter's Cathedral in Hamilton. The imagery on each wooden panel tells part of a story: stars in the night, sky, the sun, a violin, birds and fish.
Auckland sculptor Lynn Dunn was commissioned to design the two-metre high carving as a memorial for a young parishioner, Jenny Bisley, who was killed at the age of 13 when she was hit by a car.
The candlestick, which took more than a year to complete, incorporates some of Jenny's own art work and weaves together the pieces of her life from a passion for trout fishing and a love of music (she played the violin and sang in the church choir) to life on her parents' farm.
For Dunn, it was like meeting Jenny after she died. "By the time that I finished, I had the distinct feeling that the carving belonged to her, not to me," he says. "I was just the vehicle by which it came into being."
The candlestick is illuminated with a candle at Easter and wreathed with flowers for weddings and baptisms.
"We liked the idea of using light," says her mother, Ursula. "Jenny had a sort of lightness about her; a real zest for life. It all seemed to fit into place."
As an artist, Dunn sees himself as both mirror and a conduit, reflecting the world around him and communicating positive images through his work.
In works of great beauty, sculptor Lynn Dunn carves symbols of his feeling and reflections from the world around him.
Every Sunday morning, an intricately carved candlestick is lit in St Peter's Cathedral in Hamilton. The imagery on each wooden panel tells part of a story: stars in the night, sky, the sun, a violin, birds and fish.
Auckland sculptor Lynn Dunn was commissioned to design the two-metre high carving as a memorial for a young parishioner, Jenny Bisley, who was killed at the age of 13 when she was hit by a car.
The candlestick, which took more than a year to complete, incorporates some of Jenny's own art work and weaves together the pieces of her life from a passion for trout fishing and a love of music (she played the violin and sang in the church choir) to life on her parents' farm.
For Dunn, it was like meeting Jenny after she died. "By the time that I finished, I had the distinct feeling that the carving belonged to her, not to me," he says. "I was just the vehicle by which it came into being."
The candlestick is illuminated with a candle at Easter and wreathed with flowers for weddings and baptisms.
"We liked the idea of using light," says her mother, Ursula. "Jenny had a sort of lightness about her; a real zest for life. It all seemed to fit into place."
As an artist, Dunn sees himself as both mirror and a conduit, reflecting the world around him and communicating positive images through his work.
