Heritage
In the 1950’s my parents moved into a large home in Lind Washington; the Adams County farm country of eastern Washington. My father began to create the legacy and heritage that has become DK Wood Art Studio. His designs for his new shop took shape and additions of new tools began to create for me excited memories of favorite tools and fun “working” with my dad. Among those additions was a Walker Turner lathe, forged in 1947. It is still our tool of choice. His shop looked much like the current photo you see here, as the bench, varnished plywood boards and many of the tool placements are his. He taught me the art of wood working in that shop and eventually allowed me to try the lathe. For that project we made a dinner plate sized low bowl from birch. From that day I guessed that at some point my destiny would be harnessed to that lathe. As I work now I can feel his hands beneath my own guiding me. I was reminded the other day by my friend, Duncan of the bowl I created long ago that he and his wife still treasure. He mentioned this in the same sentence when he asked me if it is an antique. Technically it is, I guess, but more to the point wood art! Over the years more tools were acquired and more family and friends were delighted by the beautiful items created by my Dad. When he retired to Spokane, the shop and lathe became his work although he never sold a single piece! Many of the pieces he created over the next 15 years became part of a photo essay (seen to the right) which was presented to him on the occasion of his 90th birthday. His lathe has now become the center of our wood turning universe. I can see that our styles are very different ...and can also see and feel how his love of the wood and the craft imbued me and my son Nick with the same desire to create works of art. We are all three woodworkers whose craft and art are 100% handmade in Washington.
