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