Member Since: 2010-11-30
Country: United States of America
I make art furniture from primarily recycled (scrap, used, found) wood, steel, and other materials. I obtain excellent wood for free from local arborists, which would otherwise be firewood at best. Small mills sell me 'slabs' and 'rejects' cheap. Got some boards that were cut on the antique sawmill at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon (i left the marks made by the big ol’ circular saw blade). I’ve ‘invented’ a "faux je ne sais quoi" material using multiple layers of cement and plaster with superimposed oil- and water-based finishes. Lots of interesting stuff on the side of the road, in scrap yards, and in middens (garbage piles) in the woods. As Artist-in-Residence at Date Creek Ranch in Arizona i've collected some Saguaro cactus skeletons, dead Mesquite wood, and a beautiful old naturally hollowed Cottonwood tree. A used material has already had a life which can be reflected and transformed in the new object. I use mostly solar power and elbow grease, i'm trying a new hardwood finish with rosewood oil and no petroleum or VOC.
My educational background is in architecture (Carnegie-Mellon U) and photography (Pratt Institute, Pratt Graphics Center, New School, UC Santa Cruz, Central Washington U, Academy of Art College). My photography was mainly large format alternative processes. I'm also a musician (www.myspace.com/thetoggle). Never had a music lesson.
