Outsiders and Others is privileged to be presenting our next exhibition, Arnt Arntzen: FOUND. A collection of new works created from specially selected found materials with newly created purposes.

Arnt has been designing and building furniture since 1986.

His designs are influenced by his environment, the wild west coast and the abundance of wood and found objects. The wood is hand cut by himself in and around the city of Vancouver. Many of the objects are aircraft parts such as wings, propellers and helicopter blades. Most of his material is recycled.

His interest in metal began when building a 36 foot steel schooner in the backyard with his father. His first sculptures were created from scrap pieces. Woodcraft and design developed through renovating vintage houses.

“Joining found objects with large slabs of wood has forced me to innovate new construction methods and has greatly influenced my designs. The challenge is to design and build pieces that will withstand the test of time both structurally as well as visually.
I prefer contemporary design because it is more challenging to design something that is not familiar and by this process I think we can better our living environment.
Although my main influence is contemporary design I am a throwback to a time when you respected your elders and they in time passed on their secrets and skills that allowed you to carry on these traditions.”

The years from 1984 to 1987 were spent in Los Angeles turning his attention to studio furniture design. Arnt has been focusing on working with helicopter and airplane parts combined with hard woods he cuts himself from local windfall trees such as elm, cherry, maple, alder, birch, oak, fir and sycamore. The simplicity of form following function in aviation design ties in perfectly with his mid century modern inspired pieces. Pioneering new methods of combining dissimilar materials has become a trademark of his work.

This exhibition is a great opportunity to see the artwork of a successful self-taught artist.