Gail Hawkins
About Gail Hawkins
When Gail was eleven years old, her father gave her a toolbox as a lesson in independence. What she discovered, even at that young age, was how to use that treasure trove to imagine, design, and build.
While her creative journey over the decades has taken twists and turns (as a classically trained guitarist, graphic designer, video and sound editor), it inevitably came full circle, back to that toolbox – and the form, function and beauty of wood.
From the variance in grain pattern, curl and texture… to the abundance of Canadian species… to the natural aromatics in her Niagara-on-the-Lake studio, Gail lets the attributes dictate the shape and style of the sculptures she creates. She often introduces other materials – primarily metal, stone, resin, and acrylic – to both showcase and complement the wood.
When not shaping a piece of spalted maple, Gail can be found jamming on guitar, banjo, mandolin, or ukulele; creating motion graphics; or cooking up a gourmet meal.