The Challenges of Working with Wood

To the artist, there is always a collaboration between the maker and the material. The creativity of the artist in approaching wood is influenced and often constrained by the qualities inherent in the material, for each piece of wood is different from any other. The challenges of wood as an art medium is eloquently stated by Elizabeth Braun in the book A Revolution in Wood: The Bresler Collection:

Of the five craft media, wood most neatly balances inherent material limitations with a vast potentiality for creative intervention. Experienced artists working with more malleable materials like glass or metal may tease out extraordinary new shapes without risking disaster, but wood artists must always be aware that the object may crack or splinter if they force their will onto the material. Wood artists must cultivate a special deep sensitivity to the strength or vulnerability of the specific piece of wood chosen, respecting its individual grain and growth patterns.

A note about the wood I use for my work: For decades, I have taken the approach to acquire and use my material responsibly. Salvaging wood from trees that are destined for the landfill or for firewood is an environmentally responsible act that provides a wood artist with as much wood as he/she can possibly use, while resulting in a minimal impact on the environment. When living in the temperate region of the Northeast, obtaining wood in this manner was relatively easy. Living in the Sonoran Desert region of Arizona, however, where the native vegetation has adapted to harsh climatic conditions, indigenous trees are few, relatively small and are protected. However, in Phoenix, Arizona, as in most large urban areas, there exists an "urban forest," largely comprised of trees that are introduced from other regions and planted as street trees, landscaping or for other horticultural purposes. Many are considered exotic, not being available commercially. When these trees are removed as a result of weather, age or development, they become an exciting resource for the wood artist, again with minimal environmental impact.