“Becoming”

“Becoming” is my story, in wood, as an artist, woodworker and person becoming a more authentic and fully realized whole. It was made as my school project at the Krenov School of Fine Woodworking in Fort Bragg, California.

The doors are made from a tree once owned by fellow Missourian Mark Twain. As an illustrator, one of the first salaried jobs I had was illustrating one of his books, so finding this piece felt like a calling. The rest of the composition was built around these pieces, asking them what they wanted to be - while challenging myself with new techniques everyday of making it. It took the form of a V-door cabinet, small enough to hang on a wall but large enough for special or sacred objects.

The body of the cabinet is made from Cherry, which often symbolizes impermanence, while the back is in Sycamore which connotes grace. There are highlights of Manzanita, a shrubby bush native to California, symbolizing rebirth as it only propagates through fire, and afterwards is the first green plant often seen after the winter rains.

Brass pulls in the shape of a divided sun / moon complete the piece - the eternal cycle of new days and nights, and becoming more authentically whole along the way.

If you like this wall cabinet, I make wall cabinets starting at $500 for 20” x 20”x 5”, and they ship easily. They make extra special gifts, customized for the person