Margaret Matens

Artist Statement

As a native of Louisiana, I grew up near swamps full of Bald Cypress trees, which grow in the water and are often surrounded by “cypress knees.”  What stimulates knees to form and the function of these “roots” remains unknown, but cutting off the knees does not hamper the growth of the tree, and the root soon grows over to hide the cut.

I have been fascinated by the incredible shapes, and years ago I began carving them into wizards and gnomes. Our family had property near Ponchatoula, La., and my father and I harvested cypress knees by boat for me to cure and then carve. My goal is to follow the form of the knee and leave as much of the bark on as possible. Over the years, I have been commissioned to create “Cypress Knee Gnomes” for collectors and those intrigued by these wonders of nature.