Christi Meril, working with canvas, wood, oil, acrylic, paper, clay and more, has a distinct craftsmanship. Her pieces bring a unique energy to the room. We are proud to say that she has been a Resident Artist at ALG Fine Art since the beginning, and we have been able to witness and platform the evolution of her artistic voice.
Christi has become known for her wood sculptures, specifically her old-growth redwood creations. She takes the raw materials and uses modern art techniques, from acrylic paint to neon lights, to build upon the natural foundation and turn it into contemporary art.
You may have seen Christi’s artwork in her solo art show “Reviving Giants” which we hosted last year. Or you can walk into ALG Fine Art at any time to see her works. As well as finished pieces, Christi is open to commissions and has a library of old-growth redwood ready to be transformed.
With redwood, you aren’t starting from a blank canvas but with layers of history and meaning.
Art, thousands of years in the making
Redwoods are fabled in California. If you don’t know the story, here is the background. Redwood trees are the pillars of nature. Some have been growing for thousands of years, weathering each storm, literal and metaphorical, while continually standing strong.
There was a 100-year period when the redwood forests in California were harvested at an unsustainable rate. The wood was valuable so demand for it only grew. From about 1850 to 1950, we were at risk of losing one of the most resilient plants in nature.
Then protections were brought in to prevent what would have been a tragic loss. Old-growth redwoods are trees that have reached a certain level of maturity, usually 200 years old, and they are legally protected. However, due to the level of destruction in times gone by, old-growth redwood can often be found already fallen on land, beaches and in the water, a shadow of the past.
Serendipitous connection
In 2022, after working with wood in her art for a few years, Christi was taking a trip to Northern California. It’s one of her favorite places to visit. As she was exploring with her husband, they came upon a village and in that village, the workshop of a man who creates furniture out of old-growth redwood. Christi was instantly entranced by the idea of bringing these pieces of history back to life.
The craftsman sourced the trees sustainably, rescuing fallen trees so they could be brought into our homes and lives again. Since then, Christi has visited him to hand-select old-growth redwoods to use in her art. Some pieces are large and wide. Others are thin and tall. Some pieces stand on the floor or a surface, while many can be attached to the wall with specially designed cleats.
The heart of your home
When working on commissions, Christi most often starts with choosing the redwood piece which will be the foundation of your artwork. See what she has in the library and notice what you are drawn to, considering your vision and your space. If there is something specific you are looking for, Christi can contact her redwood supplier to check if such a piece is available and can be sent over.
Then Christi will help you ideate by showing you different methods she has used previously. You can choose between different color combinations, materials and sculptural approaches to tell your story in a way that feels authentic to you. As the work develops, Christi will give you updates so it is a true collaborative experience.
Christi’s redwoods are statement pieces that become the heart of your home, representing the journey that brought you there. The blend of natural wood and modern art means her artwork embodies both the energy of the city and the natural world. So her artwork is just as fitting for a mountain home as it is a penthouse apartment.
Tell your story in a unique way while honoring, preserving and restoring nature and the role it plays in each of our journeys. Book an appointment with ALG Fine Art to discuss commissioning a redwood piece from Christi.
