March 2020 Guest Exhibit

Mar 2, 2020 | Guest Exhibits

Wooden Bowl by Siskiyou Woodcrafters Guild member John Harden

Wooden Bowl by Siskiyou Woodcrafters Guild member John Harden

Our guest exhibit for March 2020 is an exhibition of works by the Siskiyou Woodcraft Guild, running from March 6–29. The Siskiyou Woodcraft Guild — co-founded in 1980 by Tom Phillips, at that time a recent transplant from the Bay Area — has about 60 members, who present their works in a highly anticipated annual show on the Shakespeare Festival grounds. Their 41st show takes place this coming November on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday following Thanksgiving. Guild members also present woodcrafting workshops — learn more at their website, siskiyouwoodcraftguild.org.

Siskiyou Woodcraft Guild members include John Harden, Devin Klarer, Jens Sehm, and Russell Beebe, Art Presence member Bruce Millbank and many more.

John began working with wood as a child and studied woodcrafting in middle and high school. He moonlighted making small furniture projects alongside his construction day job, and has created one-of-a-kind handcrafted furniture and woodturning full time since 2015.

Cutting Board by Siskiyou Woodcrafters Guild member Devon Klarer

Cutting Board by Siskiyou Woodcrafters Guild member Devon Klarer

Devin creates precise geometric patterns and optical illusions with wood to make wall hangings, cutting boards, small tables and more. He moved to Ashland in 2014 after a tour in the U.S. Peace Corps. Dev grew up in Kentucky learning woodcraft from a master woodworker who happened to be his dad. He has dabbled in many areas of woodwork, including bows and arrows, custom beehives, small furniture, and boxes. Currently his obsession in the wood world is with intricate geometric shapes and patterns and optical illusions (what you might label a form of parquetry). His aim is to make some of the most visually stunning cutting boards and wood wall hangings you will ever see!

Jens, a native of East Germany, left before the fall of the Berlin Wall and came to the US in 1989. After earning his degree in Construction Management from Cal Poly and working in that field for four years, he decided to focus on woodwork full time. He now works from his shop in Ashland.
Russell trained in Chinese furniture building with master Jeng Yee in Bangkok, Thailand. His work includes building fine furniture, repairs and restoration, and teaching wood carving. He’s also created several large wood sculptures installed in Ashland and at Southern Oregon University. In the summer of 2003, Russell Beebe was commissioned by Lloyd Matthew Haines to create a 20 foot sculpture from a standing dead white oak tree. “At first glance, the big tree gave me an indication of how my design would evolve, from the juncture of the first large branch down to the base. The very uniform trunk offered freedom to create while the divergence of the branch above would dictate form. This and Mr. Haines’ desire that the sculpture honor the Tree, our Wildlife and the Native Peoples who once lived in the area gave me the spectrum to create.” Russell also builds fine furniture, does repair/restoration and teaches wood carving.

Bruce was born in the Rogue Valley and has lived in Medford for the last 50 years. He developed a passion for wood and woodworking at a young age, working in his father’s workshop and taking woodshop in high school. Over the years he has done many projects, including small furniture, tables and bookshelves, and display shelves inset into the wall.

Currently, Bruce’s passion is making keepsake boxes and turning vessels on the lathe. He has a nice inventory of amazing wood and has the resources to get a special piece for you.

 

Meet the fine woodcrafters participating in our March shows at a reception on Saturday, March 7, from 1–3 pm.

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