LIT Monthly - Bark by Brittany

LIT Monthly

Bark by Brittany

A Functional Art Master

Dallas is crammed with great artists creating boatloads of spectacular work. Most of which, however, was designed to sit quietly in utter uselessness until a passerby decides to stop and look. Not so with Brittany Paige's creations.

Her Bark by Brittany series combines aesthetics and utility - a concept that isnt novel but, when done so flawlessly, deserves to be talked about. Pictured here are several one-of-a-kind pieces that vary from subtle to stunning, classy to flashy. Each has gone through a multi-step preservation process and is signed, branded and stamped by the artist.

A Texas native, Ms. Paige creates works as pleasing to the eye as they are to the environment - using "unwanted natural items" reworked into exultant eco-statues that can reinvigorate a room instantly. The Bark series epitomizes this confluence of ideals "one day, while under a dead and mangled tree, " she explains of its origins, " I looked up at a section of bark with the sun penetrating through the termite holes and natural fissures. It was one of those 'light bulb' moments." She created her first piece and gave it to her significant other 'HillBilly' Joe - another local artist known for his custom painted cowboy hats. He loved the piece and talked her into creating more.

The Bark by Brittany pieces are taken from lightning-struck trees and hand crafted to form stunning images no matter where they are placed - walls ceilings, tables. Plan to attend the Open House in her Deep Ellum showroom (3005 Canton St., Suite A) which she shares with Timmy a five foot iguana she rescued. Hours are 6 - 10pm on September 3-5. To get 'lit' in eco-friendly fashion check out www.barkbybrittany.net

Mark Beneventi

Dallas Morning News "Lightning Strikes"

Lightning Strikes

Deep Ellum artist transforms tree bark into functional art
The Dallas Morning News

Deep Ellum artist Brittany Paige is turning the phrase "lightning never strikes twice" into an art form. Bark by Brittany transforms reclaimed lightning-struck tree bark into unique ornamental wall sconces and even functional art like table lamps and accents. An artist who believes in nurturing nature, Paige only collects bark that is naturally shed from a tree's trunk. She gathers bark from certain varieties of trees including live oak, cottonwood and elm.

Once the bark is responsibly collected, she dries the wood using a process that will halt its decomposition and ensure the piece maintains its shape. Because each of her canvases is created by nature, the pieces vary greatly in size - sconce range any where from 2 feet to 10 feet in length.
Stop by her work space, Studio 3005, the first week in February for the first Open House Nights to get a behind the-scenes peek at the process.

Bark by Brittany
Studio 3005 Open House Nights
6 to 10 p.m. Feb, 5 to 7
Free admission
3005 Canton St., Suite A
214-884-8014
www.barkbybrittany.net

Confirm your attendance beforehand for a discount on purchases at the event. Her original pieces come with a certificate of authenticity and a narrative about the bark.

Sarah Toler

Barking Up the RIGHT Tree...

First off, let me first give thanks to Misty L. for without her, I would not have achieved this article!

White Rock Lake Weekly
Artist on the Scene

"Artist barking up the right tree with her unique lights"

By Misty Lorraine

As an average American I tend to be indoors eighty to ninety percent of the time, leaving me feeling disconnected with nature. So it's extremely refreshing to see an artist bringing nature indoors in practical and functional ways!
Local Deep Ellum artist Brittany Paige inventively creates indoor ambiance from lightning struck trees. Working with all aspects of the tree, whether it's the leaves, roots, bark, branches or trunk. Brittany turns the unwanted natural materials into sconce, floor lamps and other amazingly intuitive lighting designs.
Each original piece can vary in size from two feet up to twenty feet in length and are the spotlight of conversation in a room. "Everyone ask me where in the world I got this idea. One day I was standing under a dead tree, with the sun at its highest point and thought it odd that I was shaded. Looking up, a piece of bark of caught in the branches with the sun penetrating through the termite holes and natural fissures. It was one of those light bulb moments!The first piece I made was a Christmas gift in 2007 for my significant other Joe, mounted with wire adn back-lit with holiday lights. Needless to say with each new piece the idea evolves."
Bark by Brittany can be found by visiting www.BarkbyBrittany.net or e-mailing BarkbyBrittany@gmail.com for a scheduled time to visit her studio and the studio's resident rescued Iguana, Timmy at 3005 Canton ST., Suite A in Deep Ellum.

"Eco-Fish"
Image depicted in article without lighting

mmMMMMmmm Chocolate Secrets

Today I had the very positive opportunity to hang my work at Chocolate Secret's, which by the way is DELISH! You can view my brief video and interview with Lesley, my dear friend.

I look forward to working more with Chocolate Secret's with a trunk show (TBA) and anything else they'll allow me to be a part of! If you haven't checked out Chocolate Secret's now is the time!

I've Got Wood

Have I got some wood for you!

I thoroughly enjoy when people view my work, wherever it may be and contact me so that they can bring me some wood they found! Case in point, K. Ford brought her friend Pat along with her to meet me and view my work for the first time live -

"...I saw your lites on Etsy and was dazzled! As I am a fellow Dallasite I wanted to come take a look at your gorgeous creations...are you still at Studio 3005? I love your idea...the true soul of recycling....nature doesn't die... it just transfigures and transends and moves on through the ages...thank you for capturing this in your work! Let me know as I can barely sit still and am thrilled by what I've seen." ~ K. Ford, TX

While my studio isn't much, I use what space I have carefully and aesthetically as possible.

Above is an image of a 'cleaning' day in front of my studio. While I don't have the interior space to knock off the loose wood, I do have plenty of space on the front porch!


I look forward to meeting you and hope that you find my work as inspirational as I do!

White Rock Lake Weekly

I (Brittany Paige) am a local Deep Ellum artist and thank the gods, I just had the opportunity to achieve my third interview for an article. This time in the White Rock Lake Weekly courtesy of Misty Lorraine. I intend to fulfill this year with multi-state art exhibitions and *crosses fingers* to expand to a larger permanent gallery location.



You can learn more about my work specifically at my website: Bark by Brittany.net
My site is minimal but, clearly describes my art in detail and photos, currently all works online are from '09 season. My '10 spring series will be online within the month!

I look forward to working with: Malcolm's Swap Meet & the Deep Ellum Arts Fest

Malcolm's Swap Meet takes place every 3rd Sunday
Deep Ellum Arts Fest takes place April 2,3,4

As this is my first blog posting, I anticipate my brief blurbs will be more informative and specific as to what I am doing or involved in. Thanks for check me out!

Below is a brief video glimpse into the size pieces I like to work with - I am 6'1"