As I write this, I'm looking at photos of the "Shigir Idol", the oldest known wooden sculpture in the world. It was discovered in a peat bog in the Russian Urals and is 11,000 years old. A tall, totem-style humanoid figure, it has a head at the top, six smaller faces throughout the body, and strange patterns etched into it from top to bottom. There seems to be a message encoded in these patterns that has yet to to be deciphered.
This one ancient work of art embodies much of what I love about working with wood. Wood is a raw, natural material that is beautiful on its own, whether we shape it, or leave it alone completely. I strive to complement the natural beauty of wood in my work.
My background is in the arts and media production. So when I began wood working, I approached it from an artistic point of view. What most excites me is that wood--this beautiful, elemental material--can be a functional work of art, whether that function is an intangible one meant to communicate ideas (as in the case of the Shigir Idol) or the day-to-day yet profound function of uniting a family for a meal.
Form follows function, is the old adage. "Raw Figure" is my way of accomplishing just that. I work with the raw strength and beauty of wood, shape it into a sturdy, durable utility... and give it new life as a one of a kind, wooden work of art that will last a long, long time.
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