An exhibition not to be missed at the newly refurbished Rye Literary Club on Market Road is Conversations with Form, new work by creator John Alfredo Harris. He designs wooden furniture and is an exceptional craftsman, creating tables, chairs, vases and bowls, art for the wall as well as bigger items such as a room divider and the bar at the club, all exquisitely carved. The designs of the wall panels and bar are created with different kinds and colours of wood, some collected over the years, with many individual patterns and shapes which blend beautifully as a whole piece.
In his studio, John Alfredo Harris will spend time studying the wood before making a single cut, the length of time he takes is different before each piece he creates. “I lose track of time sometimes when I am in conversation with the wood.”
His work does not always begin with a predetermined design, but with a search for form – a dialogue between the artist and his material in which expression and intuition are in complete harmony with the process. “I see many possibilities within a particular piece of walnut. It could become many things but in this instance the feet of a leopard for the chair I’m making,” he says.
Looking at the pieces one can see how Alfredo has accomplished a distinctive visual blend of sculpture and functionality. His inspirations are drawn from great American, European and African artists and makers. He transcends conventional furniture making, expressing the possibilities of wood.
The exhibition is worth visiting to admire this unconventional art and the wonderful craftsmanship of the artist’s patterns and carved sculptural furniture.
Visiting hours are: Thursday 10 September to Sunday 14 September and Thursday 17 September to Sunday 20 September 2026, from 11am to 5pm.
For more details go to: alfredolovewood@gmail.com or phone 0787 9463707.
Image Credits: Heidi Foster .