Curriculum  Vitae

 

 

1987 Trained in basic wood turning techniques, at Northland Polytechnic
on a twelve-week course. Eleven months later...

1988 First solo exhibition at Reyburn House, Northland Society of Arts Gallery, Whangarei, entitled "A Passion For Wood".  A quote from Art Critic, Joanne McNeil; "Tom Capey is Northland's Wood-turner of the Year for 1988, and for good reason. His work covers a wide range of innovative, creative and fine traditional pieces. It is gratifying that he is primarily responsive to the unique characteristics of each different piece of wood to suggest its final form."

1989   Solo Exhibition at Durham Arts, Auckland.

1990   NZ Craft Council Gallery, Wellington. Textures, & Compendium Galleries, Auckland.
Solo Exhibition at the BNZ, Whangarei. Putaruru National Judged Exhibition.

1991   Artstop Gallery, Whangarei. The Pumphouse, Takapuna. Artex, Auckland.
The Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt. Stanley St. Gallery & Compendium. Auckland.

1992   Stanley St. Gallery. Wilson Gallery, Northland Polytechnic.
Putaruru Nationals. Whangarei City Art Gallery & Artstop.

1993   Artex Art Expo, Auckland.
NZ Blue Cross Wood-turning Awards, Aotea Centre, Auckland.
Tokyo International Gift Fair, Japan. Group show, Cologne, Germany.

1994   Juried Exhibition at the "Working with Wood" Show. Artex. Artstop.

1995   Coopers & Lybrand, Aotea Centre, Auckland.
NZ Blue Cross Wood-turning Awards, Christchurch.

1996   Putaruru National Judged Exhibition.

1997   First International Solo Exhibition at Kyukyodo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.

1999   The NZ Art Of Turned Wood, Wellington.

2000 & 2001   Suter Gallery, Nelson.   Autumn & Spring Group  Shows

2002   McKee Gallery at the Suter,  Nelson.        
            Wave Gallery, New Haven, USA.

Capey has won several awards for his work & grants from the NZ Arts Council.
His works are in Public & Private Collections & he has featured in various Publications.
In 1993, he facilitated the inaugural New Zealand Wood-turning Awards at the Aotea Centre in Auckland, which was opened by the Governor General, Dame Cath Tizard.

 

 

 

           S T A T E M E N T

 

 

                    When

                    the colours

                    & grain patterns of wood

                    are coupled with form, the result

                    is beauty and harmony. As wood is already

                    perfect, this fundamental  art form is essentially

                    minimalist & naturalist, evoking warmth & appreciation

                      for natural objects. I often  work with the whole tree or limb

                    and  as each  piece of wood is  different, so are  my  forms.

                    Where possible, natural  edges & “features”  are utilized as

                     these tell the life-story of the tree. My design style is fluid

                    and meditative, evolving  on & off the lathe. The display

                    of grain patterns is considerably influenced by the

                    form & the best  resolution is  always sought.

                    Every cut of the tool changes the picture

                    & the simplest form, economy of line,

                    with gentle curves

                    provides the best

                   canvas. Most of

                    my   materials

                    are reclaimed

                    from swamps

                     storm debris

                    driftwood or

                    dead trees.