Biography

I live in Gresham, Oregon. I have been turning wood for 40 years. My specialty is turning bowls from local hardwoods like Madrone and Big Leaf Maple. I started selling my bowls in art galleries in 1991. My bowls currently sell in art gallery around the country.

I have demonstrated bowl turning and spheres at five American Association of Woodturners Symposiums, the Ripon Symposium (England), in Israel and the following regional symposiums: Rocky Mountain, Vancouver BC, Utah, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Oregon and at numerous local chapters. I have taught at the John C Campbell Folk School three times and once at Arrowmont School.

I have published articles about wood and woodturning in the following journals: The American Woodturner, World of Wood, Woodworker West and Woodturning Design.

I was the past president of the Northwest Chapter of the International Wood Collectors Society.I was a founding member and twice past president of the Cascade Woodturners in Portland, Oregon.I served on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Woodturners from 2009 thru 2014 both as Symposium chair and the final three years as President.I currently serve on the board of the Larch Mountain Country Artisans and the Board of Advisors of the AAW.

STATEMENT

I have been turning wood for forty seven years. I work mainly with trees from the Pacific Northwest. Some are native, such as big leaf maple and Pacific madrone, while others like walnut and apple were planted here. Turning bowls and other pieces from trees that grew in this region connects me directly to the land around me. Most of my wood comes from trees that have died or been removed for practical reasons. I receive many calls from people who are sad to lose a tree and hope something meaningful can be made from it rather than burning it.

Turning wood brings balance to my life. I get to work with good people and beautiful materials, and I know the bowls I create will live on in someone’s home for years, hopefully used every day. Coming from a farm background, I value function, and most of my work reflects that. I appreciate the idea that something I made with my hands becomes a part of someone’s daily life.

I also believe that artists have a responsibility to teach the next generation. Woodturning has been practiced for five to seven thousand years, and I see myself as one small continuation of a very long tradition.