Red Stick Reincarnated

Finding a second, third, or thirtieth purpose for salvaged objects

by

“I’m going to show you how to read a board,” said Glen Duncan, founding member of Baton Rouge’s Redstick Salvage Artists (RSA). Salvaged cypress board in hand, Duncan not only offered an impromptu lesson in identifying the miller’s marks and tightened wood grain that characterize the well-worn wood he uses; but with a trained eye and a willing hand, he invited a glimpse into the history and purpose of these materials that salvage art so carefully perpetuates. 

Though as a group the Redstick Salvage Artists collective is still relatively new, with one show under its belt and another coming to Mid City in November (see calendar listing on page 31), the artists and artisans who populate the RSA share a drive to preserve, sustain, and create original artwork. With ten members and growing, Redstick Salvage Artists is dedicated to partnering with the community to make Baton Rouge a center of gravity for reclaimed and salvaged art.

"I'm in partnership with a plumber I've never met."

The cypress board Glen plucked from a small pile of salvaged wood in the corner of his Baton Rouge studio once belonged to the board-and-batten siding of a now-departed house. “This was a home that sheltered,” he said as he rubbed his thumb against the unpainted wood where a batten once joined. “I want to preserve what other people before me have done.” 

The person who first lit this fire for preservation in Duncan? His wife. “When we moved into our first home, my wife clued me in to the life and use still present in old bricks and beam.” Along with the bricks, beams, and reclaimed wood, Duncan also utilizes old railroad spikes and salvaged pipes—as well as select modern materials—in creating one-of-a-kind lighting and furnishings for the home.

"I like the idea of using wood that has already served a purpose."

A pyrographist—or woodburner—by trade, Orsolya “Orsi” Heim is a recent addition to Baton Rouge’s local art scene. Though well-versed in other artistic mediums—clay, chalk, embroidery, and silk painting—the beauty and intricacy of pyrography have been a lifelong fascination for Heim. A native of Hungary, she acquired her first pyrography set during a 2010 visit to the United States. 

Over the past six years, Heim has immersed herself in her chosen medium, drawing from her personal travels and past artistic endeavors to burn landscapes and abstract designs onto reclaimed wood. She scours secondhand stores, gardens, and other salvage-material havens for recycled wood on which to inscribe her intricate designs. Whether it’s an ancient cypress knee or a garage-sale cutting board, Heim is dedicated to using sustainable materials in her craft.

"If you're not careful, you'll cut right through that wonderful history."

Though not without its challenges, Chase Mullen and the other Redstick Salvage Artists are dedicated to using the “rotting gold” on our sidewalks, shores, and even backyards. Mullen, a painter and illustrator recently returned to Baton Rouge, uses found fence boards, flooring, and windows—among other sources—to construct unique frames for his artwork. 

By using locally sourced pine, oak, and cypress, Mullen’s handcrafted frames add a natural depth to his wildlife illustrations. He treats, stains, and assembles these frames with a practiced hand that emphasizes the material’s intrinsic beauty as well as his artwork. Mullen’s deep-seated fascination with Louisiana wildlife, coupled with his commitment to sustainable art, embodies the spirit and dedication that makes RSA noteworthy. 

"Pallet wood is not meant to sustain things."

Creating interesting and permanent artwork is no simple task when your main source material is something as potentially flimsy as pallet wood, but for five years, Erica Cantin has reimagined upcycled pallets and recycled maps into beautiful decoupage wall hangings. Found on her Etsy page, AtomRouge, Cantin’s artwork is dedicated to providing green, eco-friendly design solutions for every palate. 

In addition to these members, the RSA includes Mitch Evans, a fine artist whose personally developed method of resin-immersion imprints beautiful images on logs found in swamps; Josh Wascome, who uses salvaged materials to create unique cutting boards and bowls; Hunter Guidry, a local photographer who works found and reclaimed materials into his framing as well as collage-style exhibits of his photos; Victoria Petersen, creator of one-of-a-kind wooden jewelry; and Brad Standige, who builds useable furniture and home goods from salvaged materials.

Redstick Salvage Artists has been invited by MJ’s Café to feature its members’ works during the autumn Mid City Merchants event, White Linen Night. On Friday, November 18, you will find beautiful, useable salvage art in front of MJ’s Café in the Goodwood Shopping Center from 5 pm–10 pm.