|
The
Adirondacks
first inspired me to create furniture using natural forms. Centuries
ago, local craftsmen created a style of building using only what raw
materials the forest provided. This style remains prominent today.
My
appreciation of the uniqueness of wood began while living in
Belize
. There I observed local craftsmen using native woods and realized that
each tree has its own personality, revealed within its grain and the
contours of its shape. Each year, my family and I return to
Belize
, where I hand-select rare, tropical hardwood pieces. Their unique
qualities and organic shapes give them limited mass commercial appeal,
but they are perfect for the exclusive designs of the artisan. My work
reflects my desire to preserve this quality. In 2001, I purchased
dormant farmland in
Belize
and have been replanting it with native species.
I
established Rustic Roots Furniture in 2002 as a venue to market my
furniture. I am a self-taught woodworker with pieces in galleries from
New York
to
Arizona
. My furniture has appeared in rustic furniture shows from Adirondack
Living to the Rustic Furniture Fair in
Blue
Mountain
Lake
, and the Rustic Expo in
Schroon Lake
,
NY
.
I make
my home in
Jay
,
NY
, a small town nestled in the
Adirondack Mountains
, with my wife and son. When not in my workshop, or adventuring with my
son, my wife and I own and operate Earth Roots Landscaping, a business
devoted to the naturalization of private properties using native plants
and trees. Our slogan, “We’re planting the future today”,
describes the importance we place on renewing the resources we use to
ensure that our children can appreciate them tomorrow. |
