Hawaiian duo Wooden Wave join us for their debut release To The Trees We Must Go. Inspired by Star War’s classically wise leader Yoda, this finds the duo harnessing his sagelike wisdom to create a treehouse that is uniquely them with solar panel eyebrows, half pipe eyes and tons of other hidden treasures in this awesomely detailed homage to the legendary sci-fi series. Read on to find out more about Wooden Wave and their debut RUN and be sure to snag this edition right here while you still can…
1x: Tell us a little bit about this piece, anything immediate you would like us to highlight?
Wooden Wave: Yoda is such a wonderful character. We’ve always been drawn to his unique mixture of light-hearted wit and sage-like wisdom. He’s the ultimate life coach and we just love the little green fella! For this reason we thought it was time we imagined a treehouse in his likeness. He has solar panels for eyebrows, half pipes for eyes and in his forehead he has an organic roof-top garden with an X-wing landing pad (for visitors).
1x: Was this piece part of a recent theme, series or show that you had? If so how did it fit into that given grouping?
Wooden Wave: This is the the third in a series of three Star Wars inspired pieces that we made in light of the new movie release.
1x: What materials were used to create this piece?
Wooden Wave: Hand drawn line-work with digital painting.
1x: When was the piece originally created and how long did it take to complete?
Wooden Wave: This piece was done in January of 2016 over the span of about a week.
1x: Tell us a little bit about your process and how the idea and execution came about?
Wooden Wave: For us, treehouses represent the ultimate icon for adventure. When we begin a project we try to imagine some kind of narrative to go with the piece. For the Yoda treehouse, it was a natural fit to have the branches and leaves take on a more prominent character role than the actual architecture. We are always keen on maximizing the amount of fun that can be had in our imagined dwellings – which is why we often include half pipe skate ramps, tire swings and other playful details. But beyond the nostalgia of a rad clubhouse built in the canopy, the addition of solar panels, water catchment systems, and rooftop gardens, make each composition relevant to the environmental issues of today. After all, Yoda was green.
1x: What do you feel is unique about this piece compared to your other work?
Wooden Wave: We’ve enjoyed the creative challenge of making a treehouse in the shape of a well-known character. Compared to some of our other architecture-inspired treehouses, this pieces emphasizes form via the organic structures of leaves and branches.
1x: Describe this piece with one gut reaction word.
Wooden Wave: Yoda would often punctuate his advice with an affirmative grunt, so in the spirit of his unique lexicon, “Hrrm!”
1x: What are your expectations this year for POW!WOW! Hawaii?
Wooden Wave: Looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and making new ones! At its core, POW! WOW! Hawaii is about creative interaction and collaboration, so as artists, it’s definitely our favorite time of the year. This year the artist roster is amazing and we’re so honored to be a part of it again!
1x: Without giving away too much, what are your plans for your mural out in Honolulu?
Wooden Wave: For this years POW! WOW! Hawaii, look for the tree to take on a life of its own. Similar to how this 1xRUN piece came out, we plan on allowing the organic forms to dictate structure rather than the architecture.
1x: Any of the participating artists on this year’s roster that you are excited to see painting?
Wooden Wave: Yes! All of the artists are unique and inspiring in so many ways that it’s pretty tough to single a couple out! We definitely admire the way that Andrew Hem and Edwin Ushiro paint – their color theory is on point and we are excited to see what they produce. Also, we really love the vibrant way that Hueman and Curiot mix abstraction with representational form.
1x: What’s your schedule like after POW!WOW! 2016? Any big shows or events coming up that you’d like to share?
Wooden Wave: We’re very excited for 2016. We have a capsule collection of shoes being released in March for the footwear brand OluKai. We’ll also be working on more murals and some art direction projects. We’re open to a variety of creative collaborations, and we hope that the rest of the year will lead to more opportunities for growth. Cheers to the new year!
1xRUN: Where else can people find you?
Wooden Wave: Website – Instagram@wooden_wave – Facebook
-1xRUN