Nelson, BC

Originally from Daylesford, Australia, Dando moved his family to Nelson nearly a decade ago. He still travels back regularly to check on his business there (a studio and rental accommodations) and to recharge his creativity with fresh perspective.

Similar to his 2018 entry Naka “Buddy” Bench, the human form in Coalescence is a woven rod structure – a framework deliberately unfilled. The bird at the end of the gloved, outstretched arm launching into flight is resplendently crafted in wild strands of metal. “This is me freeing myself from attachments,” says Dando. “My body fragments and coalesces into something more powerful and liberating.”