Community Corner

Artists To Showcase Unusual Works in Redwood City

After more than 30 years of working in retail, Redwood City resident Ken Rhoads had accumulated a lot of stuff. 

“I started to put it to use, making birdhouses,” Rhoads told Patch. “Then my friends saw it and started asking me to make some for them,” he said.

Ken Rhoads is one of many artists who will be showcasing their work this weekend in Redwood City at the first “ART on the Square” event of the summer.  The event is supported by the Redwood City Civic Cultural Commission, the Peninsula Arts Council and the Redwood City Parks, Recreation and Community Services department. 

Rhoads’ birdhouses are made from pieces of repurposed wood that he finds at salvage yards, demolition sales, and sometimes on the side of the road.

“I’m a dumpster diver sometimes as I walk by and see renovations being done,” he admitted with a laugh. “You can find some really good pieces of molding and siding that have been weathered.” 

Most of his works are crafted from aged pieces of Redwood. Even though older wood can be harder to work with, he said, the benefit of using it is that it has already gone through many expansions and contractions that naturally occur.  

One of the pieces that he will have for sale at the show this weekend is the piece called “Trailer Trash.”  The name originates from a description of the birdhouse, as well as the materials used to produce it. It is a replica of the vintage trailers that are being made in Oregon. While those sell for about $25,000, his is priced at $275.

It was designed to house small songbirds such as chickadees and finches, as are most of his works. It is made of repurposed basswood from a set of mini blinds. 

“Kids try to open the front door all the time, but it doesn’t open,” he said.  “The back end does though.”

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Rhoads started showing his pieces in 2001, taking them on the road to art shows in Napa, Sacramento, and Dublin. But he’s been cutting back on those, because he’s getting older, he said. 

Rhods said he’s participating in the Redwood City show, because it’s convenient and close to his home.  

ART on the Square is an art showcase that kicks off at 5 p.m. this Friday, June 14 in downtown Redwood City’s Courthouse Square, which is located at 2200 Broadway.

It is a summer series of events that will showcase local photographers, jewelers, painters, and other types of artists.  All the ART on the Square is for sale. Most artists said they would be accepting cash and plastic payments via Square.  The event concludes at 8:30 p.m.  




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