A lifelong teacher, skier and craftsman, Jake was born and raised Away and has called the Mt Washington Valley home for three decades. In that time he’s developed a reverence for wood as a carpenter and woodworker along with a deep connection to nature.
He prefers to turn the interesting and challenging pieces of local hardwood species found on the woodpile, roadside and forest floor into useful inspiring objects.
Artist’s Statement:
Left to our own devices, we tend to seek perfection in a world full of perceived flaws, defects, and anomalies. I have slowly come to realize that true beauty is usually found in the least perfect persons, places, and things. Butts and crotches, warts and growths, the knotty places between the nice are where the magic happens. Trauma and sickness, loss and decay all leave scars, but closer inspection shows determined adaptations to inevitable complications. True beauty lies in the being’s innate drive to grow.
Junque Wood Turning is an exercise in looking past the straight, tight lines of uniformity to the crooked complexity of perseverance.
I strive to let each unique piece of wood reveal its own form and to never make the same thing twice.
Disclaimer:
Unless otherwise noted, all pieces are finished with food safe mineral oil and beeswax. I could sell you a tiny bottle for $25 or you can buy a quality “Butcher Block Conditioner ” at the hardware store for less than $10. Wipe with a damp soapy sponge after use and towel dry. Reapply conditioner when wood loses its sheen.
Do not put in the dishwasher or leave any wooden items immersed in water.
Many of my pieces are turned “green” and should be considered to be living, breathing beings. I’ve taken measures to minimize cracking and checking, but distortion and movement are common as the wood acclimates and continues to dry.
ArtWorksCCAC 