>> THIS MAN HAS BEEN CRAFTING FURNITURE FOR 18 YEARS NOW.
MOST OF THE WOOD HE USES I SALVAGED FROM 17th, 18th AND
19TH CENTURY BARNS, HOMES AND OUTBUILDINGS.
HIS WORK WILL BE DISPLAYED THIS WEEKEND AT AN ART SHOW.
VISIT HIS WORKHOP SO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ART AND HIS CRAFT.
>> I WAS IN THE BUSINESS FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS.
MY DAD AND FAMILY HAD STARTED IN MASSACHUSETTS.
I WOULD TYPICALLY BE ASKED TO TAKE DOWN A BARN THAT WAS PAST
REPAIR.
IN DOING THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED IS HOW INTERESTING IT
WAS TO BE TAKING THESE STRUCTURES DOWN, BUILT WITH
AMERICAN CHESTNUT A WOOD THAT DOESN'T EXIST ANY LONGER.
I'D GIVE TOURS IN THE END, AND NOTICE THAT PEOPLE LOVE TO
UNDERSTAND WHERE WOOD CAME FROM.
WHY IT CAME FROM A CERTAIN SPOT AND MAYBE WHY IT WAS PUT UP ON A
WALL IN A CERTAIN FORMAT.
I LEFT THE FINANCIAL BUSINESS AND STARTED THIS BUSINESS,
STARTED SMALL, SMALL ITEMS.
I DID MY FIRST SHOW AT THE FESTIVAL.
I CAME HOME THAT NIGHT AND STARTED BUILDING AGAIN.
I'D TAKE DOWN THESE OLD BARNS THAT WERE PAST REPAIR AND
NOTICED JUST AN INCREDIBLE AFFINITY, I JUST LOVED WORKING
WITH THIS WOOD.
YOU CUT THAT WOOD AND OPEN IT UP AFTER CENTURIES OF SITTING IN A
SPOT, IT WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL U. COULD NOT FIND IT
IN CONTEMPORARY WOODS.
THOSE TIMBERS THAT ARE NOW SUNK IN THE GREAT LAKES AND SOME OF
THE WOOD ON THE PREMISES IS OUT OF QUEBEC, OUT OF A LAKE.
I WOULD THEN GO OUT AND TAKE THOSE TREES AND MILL THOSE TREES
AND BUILD A COMPOSITE HISTORY ON THOSE TREES.
THAT COMES WITH THE PIECE OF FURNITURE, TELLING WHERE THAT
TREE MIGHT HAVE SAT, WHERE IT MIGHT HAVE LOOKED OUT ON, MAYBE
EVEN WHAT TYPE OF HISTORY MIGHT BE SURROUNDING THAT TREE AS THE
TREE GREW UP.
>> IT BECOMES AN INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
YOU CAN USE THESE BIG PIECES OF WOOD IN, THAT WOULD LOOK RIGHT
AND FEEL RIGHT SO.
LOTS OF TIMES I'LL CUT THESE PIECES, BRING THEM IN MY SHOP.
THEY MIGHT SIT AROUND FOR MONTHS BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY FIGURE OUT
WHAT TO DO WITH THEM.
>> I DO FEEL IF A PIECE OF WOOD HAS BEEN WORKED AND LAID OUT IN
THE PROPER FASHION, THAT THAT ENERGY WILL MOVE PEOPLE.
IT GOES FROM A CONCEPTUAL IDEA TO SOMETHING THAT SOMETHING
COULD DUTCH AND BE INVOLVED WITH EASTERN ANDER HE DAY.
THESE BIG PIECES OF WOOD LOTS OF TIMES HAVE VOIDS IN THE MIDDLE
OF A TREE, THERE MIGHT BE A HOLE OR A KNOT.
THEY MIGHT BE BEAUTIFUL BUT THEY NEED TO HAVE A PROCESS.
YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THESE TABLES AND PIECES AT THE ARTS FESTIVAL
THIS WEEKEND.
IT'LL STILL FORM AROUND LARGE PIECES OF WOOD AND DRATE
BOTTOMS, TOPS AND SIDES.
THE PROCESS HAS TAKEN ME A COUPLE OF YEARS TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO DO.
BETWEEN THE VARIOUS LAYERS I MIGHT ADD ROCKS, I MIGHT ADD
GLASS.
WHAT'S A VERY UNIQUE PROCESS OR LOOK TO IT HAS BECOME SO
SEAMLESS, A JOINT BETWEEN THE WOOD AND THE RESIN, A SEAMLESS
EDGE OR A SEAMLESS TOP.
>> THE MOST SATISFYING IS TAKING APIECE OF WOOD THAT LOOK TO GO
QUITE UNUSUAL IN CUTTING THAT PIECE OF WOOD AND FINDING A
DIENLTD ROUGH IN THAT PIECE OF WOOD AND TURNS THAT INTO A SPEES
OF FURNITURE.
PEOPLE WILL GO OVER TO A ... THEMSELVES TO WANT TO FEEL IT.
IT'S NICE TO BUILD AND CREATE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE CARRIED
ON FOR GENERATIONS IN THE WAY PEOPLE MIGHT HOLD ON TO IT, PASS
IT ON IN THEIR FAMILY.