Mancos artist and woodworker Kevin DesPlanques will show his work in Montezuma County for the first time at the Cortez Elks Lodge on Sunday.
The annual Christmas Bazaar starts at 10 a.m. at the Elks Lodge, 2100 N. Dolores Road. Proceeds from $30 booth sales go to scholarships, food baskets, the Angel Tree and veterans programs.
DesPlanques sculpts one-of-a-kind chairs, benches and stools using a woodworking process called stack lamination. He travels to art shows across the country to show his pieces, but hasn’t shown his work locally.
“A lot of local people know what I do with my work, but most people haven’t had the chance to see it,” he said Tuesday.
The Elks Lodge approached DesPlanques about participating in the bazaar, and he jumped on the opportunity, he said. He’ll be showing some chairs and benches, but won’t be bringing any large pieces.
DesPlanques is finishing up a few new pieces this week that he plans to debut at Sunday’s show, he said. Those include a rocking chair made from 2000-year-old wood that was recovered from a river in Mississippi. Another new piece is made from a Central American wood that is now on the endangered species list and can no longer be purchased.
DesPlanques used to teach woodworking in Dolores, so he’s hoping a few former students will come out to say hello.
“I’m looking forward to seeing some locals,” he said.
For more information, visit www.sublimerockers.com.
