Wood artist Paul Jensen receives Award of Excellence
Paul Jensen, a wood carver from Rhinelander, was one of five artists to receive an Award of Excellence at the 25th annual Laumeier Art Fair held at Laumeier Sculpture Park in Sunset Hills, Mo.
The Laumeier Art Fair is a highly competitive juried show and receives more than 700 applications, of which 150 are selected to participate. Judges then selected the award winners based on artistry, creativity, originality and overall design and display. The art fair judges awarded a total of $11,000 in prizes, sponsored in part by the City of Sunset Hills, to artists achieving excellence. This year the event was held on May 11-13, with an estimated 15,000 in attendance.
Jensen is a self-taught woodcarver from Northern Wisconsin who started his culinary wood art business in 2001. He designed and carved his first wooden spoon upon his wife’s request for the “perfect” cooking spoon. From that point on, his creativity evolved in complexity and design, leading to a merger of his enjoyment in woodworking with his love for cooking to start his own business specializing in culinary wood art.
Initially Jensen crafted individual wooden utensils including spoons, coffee scoops, rolling pins, spatulas, serving trays, ladles, and much more. He then began adding bowls and other serving pieces to his repertoire. Inspired to create art that is both functional and beautiful, Jensen began combining the elements of spoons and serving bowls to create original sculptures. Today, Jensen uniquely specializes in the design and precision carving of spoons and bowls that join together to create multidimensional sculptures. The individual components then disassemble to be used as functional serving pieces. Simply stated, Jensen describes his art as “serving pieces that pose as sculptures”.
Although mainly using native Wisconsin woods, Jensen has also incorporated the use of exotic woods in his one of a kind, hand-crafted creations. His mission is to continue in the art of designing and creating unique functional wood sculptures.
Jensen attends fine art and art/craft shows throughout the United States and has received numerous awards for his work. Jensen Originals are also displayed and for sale at select gift shops and galleries.
Jensen will be exhibiting his work at the Artarama Riverwalk Art Show & Sale on July 21 at Riverside Park in Eagle River. The show hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. rain or shine.
Jensen resides in Rhinelander with his wife, Dori. Two of their three children have graduated from college with the third nearing completion.
For additional information on Jensen Originals, visit jensenoriginals.com, or email [email protected].
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