Learning from Sand Patterns

A section of the texture I’ve been carving into my crane sculpture. I’ve learned a lot from studying sand patterns at the beach over the past few months. I’m always astounded at how such beautiful formations result from the erosive interactions of just a handful of elements- the density of different sands, slope of the […]

Tsuru Progress

I still refer to my original model of Tsuru as the full scale version nears completion. (photo by John Whalen) I’ve been shaping the final contours of my wooden crane sculpture for our Tsuru project in Denver. It’s been an arduous but satisfying exercise carving a form in wood at this scale, mostly because the […]

Fluke Progress

Our bronze Fluke sculpture at Berkeley’s Artworks Foundry, ready for its patina Hats off to Piero and Rose and the stellar crew at Berkeley’s Artworks Foundry, who have once again masterfully fabricated one of our projects in bronze. We stopped by the foundry today for a final inspection before our Fluke sculpture gets its patina […]

Fog Studies 3 (systems over routines)

When it comes to making things, I’m drawn to systems over routines. As a craftsman, my default system is tradition. It’s simply easier to keep one foot in the patterns of the past, especially if tradition is viewed as a very malleable template, a set of parameters as opposed to outcomes. Studying the grain of […]

A Ride for Town and Country

two of my Deep Deck ‘completes’, in cold-molded, natural elm (Ulmus Americana) I designed my new series of Deep Deck longboards to be ideally suited for both town and country riding, and Aili and I have been enjoying putting ours to the test as we negotiate the two. Measuring about 44” x 9.5”, the decks […]