David Getty: PINE

PINE

David Getty

29 July - 2 August 2025

P I N E   S a u n a  is constructed entirely from Nordic Pine — a material long valued for its warm color, versatility, and natural character. For the artist, who grew up amid the pine forests of Minnesota, this choice of a singular, familiar material becomes both a personal gesture and a formal exploration. The one-person sauna becomes a meditation on comfort, solitude, and the sensory qualities of wood and heat.

Pine carries diverse cultural and material resonances. Universally recognized for its strength, accessibility, and distinctive grain, it is both ordinary and evocative. Its knots, patterns, and variations are not hidden but embraced — each board contributing its own voice to a collective structure.

The construction employs a straightforward, almost elemental, method: standardized 45x90mm boards are stacked in a board-by-board assembly that recalls traditional log-building practices. This reductive approach emphasizes the individuality of each component while reinforcing a sense of unity through repetition and rhythm.

As a freely accessible public installation, P I N E   S a u n a  invites unexpected encounters. Positioned within an urban gallery context, it offers a space of quiet introspection and warmth — a momentary retreat. Visitors are welcome to step inside, sit, and engage with the work through bodily experience, bridging design, sculpture, and ritual in an understated, sensory encounter.

Supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants