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Charles Ridgely White

A native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, White graduated in Commercial Art William and Mary (now VCU) after service in the U.S. Army, and a thirty six year career in advertising and design he now concentrates on one-of- a-kind sculptural art pieces produced in his studio in central Virginia�s James River Valley. As his pieces so aptly demonstrate, his work is often noted for its whimsy as much as for its fine and detailed craftsmanship.

Artistic expression is in White's blood. He's always enjoyed working with his hands, reclaiming things that seem to be spent, or have been discarded. He goes on to combine these things into new forms with the creativity that springs from head, heart and hands.

A light airy piece of poplar from an old church organ, some dense mahogany from an old bedstead, tight-grained 19th-century heart pine, steel-hard hickory from a downed tree, slick modern PVC pipe, rough wire cloth with fibered cement, fragile pieces of eggshell ... All these elements speak to White. He believes that the creative process involves listening to what the materials are telling us, releasing their energies in new ways and new combinations.

Sometimes an image will occur to White at the outset and his hands seem to know the path to follow. At other times the piece itself seems to lead the craft, calling forth expression he hadn�t consciously planned or anticipated. It really does seem that sometimes function comes out of form.

�Artistic expression is what�s in your blood. I�ve always liked working with my hands, reclaiming things that seem to be spent, or that have been discarded. You then combine them into new forms with the creativity that springs from head, heart and hands."


Bird Bath Table
(24" x 24" Width, 29" Height. Old Organ Poplar, White Eggshells, Inlaid Mahogany, PVC and Fibered Cement on Wirecloth, Lacquer Finish)


Blue Moon over Old Richmond
(18" Width, 48" Height. Glass, PVC, Paint, Pine & Lacquer Finish)


Eagle's Nest Table
(19� Width x 22� Length x 44� Height [Table 18� W x 16� D x 24� H] Brown & White Eggshells, Heart Pine, PVC & Fibered Cement on Wirecloth, Lacquer Finish)

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