About the Artist
I was born an artist, that is a maker of things. As vague as that sounds, it is entirely accurate. As a child I was always making objects or daydreaming of making them. Apparently, I didn’t need an agenda, I just wanted to make them, because before I was completely finished with one project I would begin another.
Throughout my life, I’ve studied many artistic disciplines including woodworking and carving, welding and silversmithing, stone carving, and pastel painting. I apprenticed to a master of traditional Japanese carpentry for seven years, two of which were spent persuading my teacher to accept me as an apprentice. Traditional Japanese carpentry has not only profoundly influenced my woodwork, but my whole artistic approach. This background, then, has led perfectly for me to pursue the idea of coming across something, being drawn toward it and interested enough to make it. These are items seen in my nighttime dreams, ideas in everyday life or being approached by someone to make them something. Items from nighttime dreams are my favorites. They are the easiest to make as far as design goes. Just start the process and everything else flows along to the end. Everything I make is primarily done by hand, very little is done with machines only because I don’t care for the noise and dust that comes with machine work. I work in wood, stone and metals: elements that come from and will return to the earth. I live in a beautiful house with my life partner and wife of thirty plus years in Santa Fe New Mexico. |
The reason that there is this board hanging in our living space is because I wanted to show appreciation and gratitude to my teacher, who taught me for my 5 year apprenticeship in the art of traditional Japanese carpentry.
Rare was the occasion to talk to my teacher during my apprenticeship. My teacher gave instruction, I asked questions about the instruction then carried out his instruction for building in the tradition. Questions or conversation of anything but the work at hand was frowned upon. Therefore, choosing my timing carefully, at lunch, “Sir, please, what are these marking on the beams next to the mortises I am cutting out? “ My teacher then proceeded to take a scrap piece of Alaskan yellow cedar to write on and explained the layout system used in traditional Japanese carpentry. Traditional Japanese carpentry uses a grid of X and Y coordinates to account for the exact location of every intersection of pieces of wood used in the construction of a home, a room, a door; everything we built. This piece of Alaskan yellow cedar is what my teacher wrote on to explain and teach me the Japanese characters and pronunciation of those characters. I cleaned it up and put a copper lined hole through the top. I’ve hung it in our living space in dedication and gratitude to my teacher and my apprenticeship. |
Exhibitions:
- May 2018 Eldorado Arts 27th Annual Studio Tour Santa Fe, NM
- May 2017 Eldorado Arts 26th Annual Studio Tour Santa Fe, NM
- May 2016 Eldorado Arts 25th Annual Studio Tour Santa Fe, NM
- January 2007 Joan Longstaff Gallery - Continuing Show -Stone Sculpture Edmonds, WA
- December 2006 Gallery O.K. - Forgotten Works Challenge-30 Paintings in 30 Days Seattle, WA
- Spring 2006 G.A.Jones & Associates - Continuing Pastel Art Exhibit Edmonds, WA
- December 2005 Gallery O.K. - Forgotten Works Challenge - 30 paintings in 30 Days Seattle, WA
- Fall 2005 Kirsten Gallery - NWSSA members Exhibition Seattle, WA
- Fall 2004 Kirsten Gallery - NWSSA members Exhibition Seattle, WA
- Fall 2001 Frye Art Museum - Student Show Seattle, WA
- Fall 1993 The Wonderful World of Art - Juried Show Seattle, WA