New Exhibit At Gallery A3: Sculptures In Wood By GK Khalsa

GK Kahlsa’s new exhibit Sculptures in Wood, will open at Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street 1D, in Amherst, on Thursday, March 2 and run through Saturday April 1. The gallery will host an opening reception on Thursday March 2 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Gallery Hours are Thursday-Sunday, 2:00-7:00 p.m.

Khalsa will exhibit three-dimensional work utilizing various types of wood. Some pieces are carved, some are painted, and some incorporate river stones, stained glass, and other materials. All celebrate inherent forms he sees emerging from the natural material.

GK Khalsa had been planning on painting, but, he explains, “I had all this beautiful wood so I decided to work with it.” Reddish Cedar, yellow-toned Pine, driftwood gathered from the shores of rivers, lakes, and oceans, and dark Black Walnut wood, harvested from trees cut down in Amherst—all lured him into working three-dimensionally.

He began by transforming a slab of Black Walnut into a spoon-shaped form some seven feet long. A slightly smaller version in Oak wood followed. And then he moved on to a series of elongated pieces, standing some five feet high, each carrying a strong figurative presence.

At times, GK’s alteration of the material is minimal. He spent years looking at a piece of silvery gray driftwood, and then, one day, its shape reminded him of a raven. Following the wood grain, he carved feathers and painted an eye. “Looking at the wood and letting something come out,” is how he describes the process.

His most recent sculpture, expressing support for Ukraine, is a more complex combination of materials. It’s a tall piece, reaching almost eight feet high. GK began with weathered wood, and painted it black so it looks charred. Taking news clippings and photographs about Ukraine from the New York Times, he collaged them onto the wood, adding hand-written commentary urging independence for Ukraine and an end to the war. And he painted the wood, using the brilliant blue and gold of the Ukrainian flag and including images of the sunflower, another national symbol.

His initial plan, for painting, did not go completely unfulfilled. Included with the sculptures are three oil paintings on wood that are also of wood. “Just following the grain to get the pattern,” he says.

About Gallery A3
Gallery A3 is an artist-run fine art gallery in downtown Amherst, Massachusetts, that was founded in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. A group of local artists believed art to be essential to the health and healing of a community and began the gallery as a place to share ideas and artistic support. Current members include painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers, and mixed media artists. Celebrating its 21^stanniversary in 2023, the gallery has hosted monthly exhibits with opening receptions and community forums over the last two decades. All events are free and open to the public.