I am excited to be introducing my newest work at the 2017
Camano Arts Association Studio Tour on Camano Island on Mother’s Day Weekend (May
12-14) and the following weekend (May
20-21). I call this series of tables Trees
of Harmony.
I took a more sculptural approach with these tables than in my
previous work, departing from the usual furniture pattern of four legs, apron,
symmetry, etc. I chose to work with
these burls, with their extreme visual and tactile textures, because they made
such a strong connection for me with the natural world. The asymmetrical base completely
fits with the irregular swirls and knobs of the burl and evokes images for me of
tree trunks, roots, puddles, rocks and other natural objects.
These table tops have a lot of natural burl edges and burl
surfaces. The textures are really extraordinary,
and the natural burl edge is much more dramatic than the usual “live” edge. If
you like the idea of natural edges -- the sense of being closer to nature or of
being reconnected to nature --I think you’ll really love these tables. To me,
the edges are so striking and so noticeable that they will set the tone for
their area of a home.
I pondered quite a while on the type of base that would be
appropriate for these burls – pedestal vs. four legs, round or square, curved
or straight, metal vs. wood, natural
(like a root) vs. crafted, etc.. None of these in my opinion reached the bar
set by the burls in their natural state. I wanted something that worked in
harmony with the feeling provided by the burls, that maintained and extended
the connection with the natural world, yet I wanted something that would also work
with more typical, refined furniture pieces.
The approach I came up with is an abstract of the tree itself.
In contrast to the edge, the flat part of the table tops
display the exotic, visual burl texture of irregular, spherical swirl patterns.
This exotic wood was the favorite of Kings and Emperors in times past. The live
edge, tactile texture was not. So the two faces of the burl are exposed. The
Yin and the Yang. They work together to
make an extraordinary piece. Harmony.
