Charred: An Exhibition by James Crowther

Finding beauty in imperfection, Charred is a Bruny Island exhibition celebrating salvaged Tasmanian timber through traditional craftsmanship, sustainability and wabi sabi philosophy.

In Tasmania, artist and chairmaker James Crowther has found his creative home. Where others see discarded timber, Crowther sees possibility.

Crowther has built a practice around salvaging what the island state’s weather leaves behind – windblown branches, storm-damaged wood, and timber destined for waste. What emerges are unique furniture and homeware pieces that embody wabi sabi, the Japanese concept that finds beauty in imperfection.

From 13 February to 15 March 2026, bruny NORTH will present an exhibition of Crowther’s work, showcasing pieces crafted entirely from materials that already carry a history shaped by weather and time.

“Every crack, every scar, every place where the grain splits – these are part of the story,” Crowther explains. “The timber has already lived a life before I touch it, shaped by weather and time. I respond to what it reveals, and work with it to craft my chairs and homewares.”

This philosophy extends throughout Crowther’s process, where traditional woodworking techniques merge with contemporary approaches. The exhibition will focus on vernacular chairs, stools, and furniture pieces that deliberately embrace cracking and charring as design elements. Using charring techniques, Crowther creates striking dark finishes that add depth and narrative to each piece.

“I love that deep, almost black finish,” Crowther says. “It’s a preservation technique that’s been used for centuries. It protects and hardens the timber while adding this incredible texture and character. There’s something honest about the process — using fire to transform the material and accepting that you can’t control every outcome. That element of risk and curiosity drives my work forward.”

For Virginia Dowzer of bruny NORTH, Crowther’s exhibition represents a perfect alignment with the gallery’s commitment to slow tourism and sustainable creative practices.

“James embodies everything we value here at bruny NORTH,” Dowzer notes. “His approach to green woodworking – using only what’s already available, working with salvaged materials, and creating objects designed to last generations rather than seasons – this speaks directly to the slow tourism movement we’re championing.”

“We’re not interested in quick consumption,” Dowzer continues. “We want visitors to bruny NORTH to slow down, to witness process, to understand that beautiful, functional objects can be created with minimal environmental impact.”

Crowther will be doing pop-up demonstrations of his green woodworking throughout the exhibition, so that visitors can see timber being shaped in real time, using traditional techniques.

“It’s the antithesis of mass production,” says Dowzer.

Based in Hobart with a shack on Bruny Island, Crowther draws direct inspiration from the resourcefulness embedded in island culture.

“Island life teaches you to work with what you have,” he reflects. “You repair things rather than replace them. You value longevity over perfection. Those principles are embedded in island culture, and they’re embedded in my practice. I’m making objects that are meant to be touched, used, lived with – pieces that become more beautiful as they age and gather the marks of daily life.”

This emphasis on functional beauty, on objects that improve with wear rather than deteriorate, connects Crowther’s work to broader conversations about sustainability and conscious consumption. Each chair, stool, and piece represents timber diverted from waste, given new purpose through skilled hands and patient craftsmanship.

“bruny NORTH exists to support practices that reflect the essence of this place,” Dowzer adds. “James’s work does exactly that – it’s grounded, honest, and enduring. It holds the marks of place, process, and time. That’s what slow tourism is about: meaningful connections, sustainable practices, and objects with soul.”

Exhibition details

Charred by James Crowther
13 February – 15 March 2026
bruny NORTH
18 Bruny Island Main Rd, Dennes Point, Bruny Island / Lunawannah-alonnah

Opening hours:
Friday: 12.00pm – 7.00pm
Saturday: 9.00am – 7.00pm
Sunday: 9.00am – 3.00pm

More information: @brunynorth