John Gunther

mixed media

John Gunther creates abstract to representational works with hand-dyed New Zealand wool and Scandinavian warp surface design weaving or with hand-painted, hand-woven aluminum. To create his woven pieces, Gunther first hand primes two equal-sized sheets of aluminum with a heavy metal primer. This helps create underlying texture and durability for the color to stick. The two sheets are painted in a similar but not exact image. This allows the weaving process to create a unique and one of a kind result. He then fabricates various styles of framing from flat to curved. He glue-mounts the woven aluminum fabric to these frames and securing the edges with matching hand-painted aluminum tape. Gunther draws inspiration from nature's window: from all the places he has lived and visited.

Gunther’s story:
I have been a weaver and woodworker for over 45 years. With the gift of a loom while in college at MI State, I started to learn and understand the diverse uses for woven fabrics mixed with other materials, especially wood and metals. After I graduated with a degree in Arts and Letters, I moved from Michigan to the mountains of the southern Appalachians. I focused on functional weaving making woven shelving, lighting, floor coverings, and wearable clothing. My first art show was in Boone, NC in the parking lot of a bagel store. Through the years I honed my craft-making into a finer art and I began entering higher-level shows that took me across the states from California to the east coast. I stick to shows closer to home now and enjoy the freedoms that come with being a self-employed artisan.