My work combines my love of trees and my love of shapes, especially interesting shapes viewed in profile. As a person who has been interested in the natural world since I was a child, as well as a historical archaeologist fascinated with the material culture of the past, I am drawn to combining woods with interesting knots, grain, spalting, bark, worm holes, and other “imperfections” with more structured shapes, some hearkening to historic refined ceramic tablewares as well as other more abstract ideas of the mid-twentieth century. One of the most important themes of my work is that the observers of my turned vessels and other objects always are reminded that these items once were parts of beautiful, living trees, and while the shapes may vary, one can sense my commitment to respecting their presence in any of the pieces I make.