Dennis Ruane Woodcarver




     






Dennis Ruane is fortunate to have lived most of his life in the Appalachian Mountains. He grew up in Hopwood, Pennsylvania, a small town in the southwestern corner of the state.

As a boy scout at age twelve he received his first merit badge, woodcarving and thus was introduced to the craft that would one day become his livelihood and passion.

Dennis began his career as a sculptor while a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, carving and selling wooden spoons. In 1982 he abandoned his science career to follow the life of a craftsman, moving back east the following year.






An early interest in American folk carving characterized his work for the first decade and it was mostly of a traditional style and generally realistic. Over the next fifteen years Dennis' work evolved through many styles and subjects to its present contemporary form.

It is now characterized by simple flowing lines with the beauty of the wood an integral part of each composition.





Dennis Ruane and his wife, Jean Alvarez moved to Waynesville, North Carolina in 1999. They purchased a bulding on Main Street and opened  Hardwood Gallery. The building also served as their home and Dennis' studio.

Hardwood Gallery was open for eight years. During the latter part of this era, Dennis fulfilled a long time desire to write a novel.  In the summer of 2006 he self-published his first novel, Wooden Spoons.

Dennis has since written a second novel, Cataloochee Man, which was published in September of 2009.



Photograph of Wood Pile


Hardwood Gallery was closed at the end of 2007. Shortly after, Dennis  purchased a house and a small building located near Marshall, North Carolina. Over the course of the past year he converted the building into a workshop and gallery. Walnut Creek Gallery opened on May 12, 2009.

Dennis  named the property Studio on Walnut Creek and  he divides his time there between woodcarving and writing.






Copyright © 2009 Walnut Creek Gallery. All rights reserved world wide. All images and writing are property of the
artist. No part of this document can be used without written permission from the artist. Art is a good idea.