Bio:My wood shop has been a primary renewal space throughout my professional life. I grew up in my father's shop and developed a growing appreciation for the beautiful things that can be made from wood.
Bio:
My wood shop has been a primary renewal space throughout my professional life. I grew up in my father's shop and developed a growing appreciation for the beautiful things that can be made from wood.
About 15 years ago I was introduced to wood turning at an Elderhostel training event at Arrowmont Craft School in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. From that satisfying experience woodturning became my primary way of creating from wood. There is something magical about the beauty that is hidden in the middle of a log. As I planned for my retirement, I knew that woodturning would be the way I would spend my time.
I had the privilege of taking courses in woodturning from Nick Cook and Bobby Clemmons at Arrowmont Craft School and several excellent teachers at the Campbell Folk School. I am a member of the American Association of Woodturners. The Arkansas Craft Guild has given me an outlet for my work and a family of artists to continually challenge me to be creative.
I especially enjoy watching the colors rise out of the wood in the turning process. I enjoy using inlaid images created from exotic woods and decorative forms with symbolic meanings. Most of my vessels are food safe and can be used to serve food.
Before retirement I served the United Methodist Church as minister of education and formation and as local church pastor in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Tennessee and as associate professor at the Memphis Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee.
