Inside the Artist’s Studio with Bill Churchill – FREE

Sunday, May 8: 1-2:30pm
Lecture: FREE
Ticket Required for Main Exhibit
Bill Churchill

Anaheim, California

Growing up on the plains of the Texas Panhandle fostered in Bill Churchill a love of the American West. Military tours in Asia exposed him to the beauty of wood in architecture and sculpture, and a twenty-year career as a general building and engineering contractor furthered his passion for woodworking. Churchill’s goal is to create wood sculpture that showcases the beauty of wood and tells our Western Americana story. This unique conceptual blend has resulted in twenty-four Best of Show Awards, four People’s Choice Awards, and countless first place Blue Ribbons.

Statement from the Artist:
Born in Texas, I grew up in the hey-day of Western stars like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. As a child, playing in the plains of the Panhandle, I expected to find old guns or saddles of dead outlaws behind every sagebrush. I didn’t; instead I discovered a love of the Western way of life.

A tour of military duty in Korea and Japan, exposed me to the beauty of wood in architecture and sculpture. Beautifully carved sculpture and doors were elaborate elements of the buildings. Here I found a love of wood and sculpture and was impressed by its diversity of beauty.

A twenty-year career as a General Building and Engineering Contractor further enhanced my love of wood and architecture. Then, a chance encounter with a beautiful wood carving led to carving as a hobby. This opened my eyes and the light went on, so to speak. Always interested in art, this new hobby seemed to combine every aspect of my life’s influences; Western Art, Sculpture, and Wood.

Now, after more than twenty years as a wood sculptor, this love has turned to a relentless passion. My goal is to create wood sculpture that showcases the beauty of wood and tells our Western Americana story. This unique conceptual blend has resulted in twenty-four Best of Show Awards, four People’s Choice Awards, countless first place Blue Ribbons and participation in such prestigious art shows as the Masters Of The American West at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles.

 

Photo: Matt Masin, Orange County Register

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