Artist Discusses His Work

Artist John Cross visited Hudson Valley on Mar. 28.

Cross was introduced by Chad Coumbes, former Student Senate President, who told the story of how the two had met. Cross’s wife had had an exhibition on campus, which Cross had attended and had spoken to the art students in attendance.

Cross introduced himself as a wood carver, sculptor, and whittler. He accompanied his presentation with a slideshow of different pictures, with the first one showing his work space.

Cross talked about how he ended up where he is today. He spoke of his childhood at the Jersey Shore and the man who amused him with his pig carvings, and his move to Montreal at the age of 12, and how much he missed the Jersey Shore.

He began his education as an economics major to impress his father who said he needed to attend “serious school” instead of “art school.”

He was studying in New York City when he met his wife at the art institute. He hung around the art students while living there and worked in a studio.

Cross whittles with sugar pine, a type of wood that is easy to cut but is also hard to come by. He uses sharp knives and a band saw to carve his work and paints his pieces with acrylics. He said does not consider himself a folk artist but many classify what he does as folk art.

Many of his pieces reflect his love for baseball. He showed images of pieces including a New York Giants versus Dodgers game, with each player and umpire positioned on the field. He had individual carvings of different players, including Babe Ruth, and many from the Negro League.

Cross’s other works included a piece of a tattooed woman for the 1998 World Series, a piece of a tattooed woman in a bathing suit for the 76 bicentennial, a carnival side show inspired set of 16 characters, a series of 28 heads, including Picasso’s, a series of Adam and Eve sculptures, and a commissioned piece for Absolut Vodka.