Andre Benoit will begin the 2022 Artist of the Month series at the Southport Memorial Library with his abstract assemblages through the months of January and February.

Benoit creates wooden assemblages with materials he thoughtfully salvages from beaches, construction sites and discarded furniture. Unrelated components meld into cohesive compositions but retain enough of their original characteristics to tell the story of their provenance. The results are often representational but always cheerfully whimsical.

Artist’s statement: “My intent as a abstract assemblist sculptor is to represent the human form and iconic motifs with repurposed wooden remnants. The origin of the components of my constructs is from a myriad of sources and environments were the workmanship of hand or machine and exposure to the out of doors or ocean has created contours and patina respectively that catch the eye and entertain and maintain the interest of the viewer as often do the stories of acquisition of requisite wooden material. My use of pigment is sparing in degree to prevent its domination of the overall impression and not to obscure the beauty of the surface of the wood I embrace the concept of Wabi Sabi with the intentional use of asymmetry and a somewhat unfinished appearance to capture the spontaneity and enhance the overall impression of my work.”

The library’s hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with additional evening hours on Thursday from 6-8. The Southport Memorial Library is at 1032 Hendricks Hill Road, at the southern tip of Southport.

For more information, contact the library: 633-2741 or southportlibrary.org. For more information on the artist, visit André E. Benoit — Galerie Alpine