Luke Mann Woodturner
Waitsfield, VT

My grandfather, a sculptor and fine woodworker, has had a deep influence on my life - besides genetics. He encouraged in me an appreciation for and a relationship with wood. I believe it was his nurturing as well as inheriting some of his talent that led me into a career as a woodturner. I am honored that God has blessed me with the abilities I have as well as the amazing variety of beautiful wood He has made available to me.

As wood is my material of choice, it is essential that the wood I work with is truly exceptional. Conventional woodworkers value the consistency of straight-grained, kiln-dried wood. My preference is working with materials with unusual characteristics such as knotty, worm-eaten and spalted woods, highly figured woods such as curly, birds-eye and quilted, as well as burls, crotches and stumps. Ironically, these treasures are often found as discards at logging sites.

I find the process which occurs between the wood, the lathe and myself a dynamic one. Initially, I look at the overall shape of the log, taking into consideration the grain, the knots and other irregularities and visualize the possibilities. As the material is prepared for the lathe, and during the turning process, inherent features in the wood may cause me to change the design. Hence, the end result is often different from my original intentions and each piece ends up being unique, not only in its shape but in its personal history.

After turning, as the wood dries, it shrinks and distorts, enhancing each piece with a distinct texture and form. This is the final contribution of the material to the work.

There is no complex philosophy attached to my work. I simply desire to turn forms that appeal to me in the hope that they will also appeal to others. My goal is to produce objects of enduring beauty which are touched, handled, and enjoyed, expressing the glory of God, the creator.

Work exhibited at:
* Frog Hollow, The Vermont State Craft Center, Burlington, VT
* Pillsbury Peters Fine Art, Dallas, Tx
* Turtle Gallery, Deer Isle, ME