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I
was trained at Duke University as a biochemist and worked for ten years
in that capacity. My real love, however, was my woodworking hobby which
soon turned into a small crafts business. Each night I would retire to
my small, dusty shop where I would revel in the transcendent beauty of
wood grain. My inspiration came as I uncovered the history of a tree as
told in the infinite variations of swirling wood grain patterns. |
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One
night, quite by accident, I discovered that wood was translucent if it
was sliced thin enough. For years after I dreamed of making wood glow.
Then late one night driving down a twisting country road I realized that
it might be possible to turn wood thin enough on a lathe to produce a
lampshade. Suddenly the dream of a lifetime unfolded before me - to bring
a new dimension of beauty to the wood grain I loved so passionately. |
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I
quit my job, built a bigger studio, and bought a lathe. I studied with
three master woodturners: Liam O'Neal, Rudy Osoinik, and David Ellsworth.
Using the techniques they taught me I spent two years perfecting my process
to produce turned wooden lampshades. By carefully drying the wood in rough-turned
bowls and then replacing the wood's internal moisture with thick coats
of epoxy, I was able to create lampshades that would be durable and completely
stable for many years. |
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I
bring my glowing wood sculptures to the world to let people see the wonder
of wood again for the first time. They are a metaphor reminding us that
when we let our own inner light shine through, we will discover new and
unexpected dimensions of the divine beauty within each of us. |
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