About Mark Dale Smith
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As an anthropology major at the University of California, Berkeley in the late 1960s Mark Dale Smith often visited the De Young Museum in San Francisco. It was there that he was exposed to various facets of the Asian Art Exhibition including netsuke, wood block prints, jade carvings and painted screens. These elements of oriental naturalism have been a major influence on his subsequent work. In the medium of American hardwoods and native Idaho timber he works primarily with sculptural, functional forms. These include naturalistically carved vessels, containers, netsuke and a wide range of furniture and architectural features. Motifs involved are a reflection of the natural world integrated into the living spaces and architecture of many discerning clients. |
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From early netsuke carving Mark Dale Smith's carvings evolved into containers and boxes. In the 1970's Mark began showing his work at the original Renaissance Faire's in the Bay Area and Los Angeles environs where he came into contact with clients from the entertainment and music industry. One of Mark Dale Smith's first major works was a carved walnut dinner set (22 pieces) featuring California coastal life commissioned by actor/comedian Cheech Marin. Marin also commissioned a dining table and chair set reflecting the same coastal life as the dinner set, in the Art Nouveau style to match the decor of his Malibu home. Cheech was instrumental in Mark's development as an artist by the encouragement to carve larger pieces as well as the inspiration derived from exposure to his fine collection of Naturalistic Art Nouveau glass and furniture. |
Another early important work was commissioned by Arthur A. Harris of Santa Monica, California. The The theme of this massive furniture collection is South American Jungle Life. Conceived and designed in the late 1970's, the works are carved in koa, black walnut and cherry wood. Individual motifs in this 14 piece collection of desk, table, chairs and cabinets include Quetzal, Iguanas, Anaconda, Heron, Tamandua, Ocelot and Peccaries. The artist works of this period can be found in the collections of Lou Adler, Jack Nicholson, Henry Winkler, Robert Foxworth and Liz Montgomery, E. Robert Wallach and others. Having lived in Meadows Valley, Idaho since 1974 Mark Dale Smith's work came into increasing demand for large homes and lodges of the nearby McCall/Payette Lake region as well as the Sun Valley and Boise areas. This work includes finely carved entry doors, interior doors, fireplace mantels and other architectural features and furniture featuring a 'mountain lodge' style. These works incorporate themes native to the Northern Rockies such as Elk, Bear, Moose, Eagles, Cranes, Trout and Salmon all in association with indigenous flora. Various hardwood species are used such as walnut, oak and maple as well as regional species; alder, red fir, willow, yellow pine limb wood, lodge pole and pine slabs milled by a local specialty mill. By working closely with clients, architects and builders he provides truly exceptional work that is fully integrated into personal living spaces. In 1993, Mark Dale Smith was awarded the only grant given in Idaho by the National Endowment for the Arts: New Forms Regional Grant Initiative to encourage exploration in new directions. "Dreams of Remembered Ancestors," a monumental furniture/sculpture collection featuring native mythological images, was the resulting project. |
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Bronze work was begun in 2003. He started casting pedestals for a friend's line of bronze washbasins. The bronze pieces have since evolved to include door hardware and sconces featuring natural themes and complimenting the carved doors and mantels. Also available is a collection of bronze sculpture, trays and vases.
Selected pieces of one-of-a-kind furniture are also available at the Artizen Gallery in McCall, Idaho
and the Grizzly Claw Trading Post in Seely Lake, Montana.
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White Cloud Studios, Mark Dale Smith New Meadows and McCall Idaho (208) 347-2149 All images are Copyrighted © All Rights Reserved |