Pirrie Sargent was born in Sydney in 1936 and has been a resident of the Mossman district since 1989. He commenced woodwork as a hobby in 2015 and it stills continues to give him great satisfaction to this day. Most importantly, he has a private gallery to store his creation that he has made over the past 8 years which will never to be sold in his lifetime. Locals and visitors at this year’s Mossman Show were curious to know more about Pirrie’s and his woodworking creations:
- What inspired you to start working with timber? – At the age of 15, in high school, I made a dovetail lidded wooden box in manual arts training. I failed because I received only 4 out of 10 marks for my dove-tail joints. This failure motivated me to improve. Over the years, I have persisted in practicing and watching master craftsmen from all over the world. I draw inspiration from events such as Turnfest, held at Sea World on the Gold Coast, Torimba Festival of the Forest at Ravenshoe, and Woodwork World online. Through these experiences, I have developed my skills and now, at the age of 87, I can confidently say that I have improved significantly. I still remain fit and well and continue to create marvelous pieces with timber, a craft that has become my passion.
- Your wide range of pieces, designs, forms, and styles – where does this come from? – I enjoy experimenting with challenging configurations, which lead to unique and one-of-a-kind creations.
- How do you find inspiration? – I find inspiration by observing and learning from master craftsmen who create exceptional objects from different types of wood with unusual markings or texture.
- How do you create a unique piece of art? – When creating a unique piece, I approach the process with an open mind. I work in harmony with the natural characteristics and properties of the wood and somehow – a unique piece of art happens!
- What was the most rewarding part of having a display stall at the Mossman Show? – One of the most rewarding aspects of showcasing my work at the Mossman Show was the opportunity to inspire others. People of all ages, young and old, were able to witness the possibilities and satisfaction in creating a piece of art in wood form which can be either simple or complicated and would be a great occupier of time with achievement.
Mossman and District Show Society 