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About the Woodwork
I began building boxes several years ago in
order to pursue an interest in designing and constructing functional objects
that have a unique personality. Wood was the natural choice since I 'd been working
as a picture framer and had built a few simple bookshelves and small plain boxes
in the past. I enjoy the physical and mental aspects of the work and get a lot
of pleasure working with my hands. I started with a basic box and soon
discovered the many directions I could take and eventually expanded my thinking to
include small cabinets and shrines. I found it really stimulated my imagination
and provided a more immediate visual and tactile experience, which differs from
my work in photography.
The pieces are thematic abstractions or presentations with which I can explore
my interest in a variety of subjects. These range from the natural environment
to science and technology to observations made about everyday objects or occurrences
as well as some of the emotional aspects of being human. Anything and everything
is fodder for my examination. They are both functional and symbolic, designed to
become repositories for personal treasures, mementoes or just for life's
accumulations.
My ideas usually begin with a small sketch or a few words on a scrap of paper,
as I develop the concept larger sketches are made. Once I've determined the
general layout and what materials I'll need, the size is determined and drawn to
size.... and sometimes I just wing it. Although I may repeat a theme I find
particularly interesting, each piece is individually crafted. They are not meant
to be examples of perfection but have a quality of simplicity or primitiveness
about them. The use of found objects and hand-constructed elements adds to
this concept. This is important because I find it lends a sense of whimsy and/or
eccentricity, which is the spirit in which I approach each piece. These
containers are meant to be used, albeit handled with care. I would like to think
that years from now they'll still be around maybe a little battered and dirty
but treasured as an odd remnant from the past.
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