ebb
05-27-2006, 07:29 AM
self-taught California master furniture maker passed on recently. He built his unassuming shop on the road into Bolinas in 1957 and continuously developed a recognisable style that has entered collections all over the world - including the Smithsonian. He and a bunch of Bay Area craftsmen formed the Baulinas Craftmans Guild that provided a structure for young woodworkers to apprentice in small shops.
He specialized in Claro Walnut, mostly because it was locally available, beginning with bowl turning. (From an interview found on the net) "You don't have to know anything to work with wood. If you're working with metal or ceramics, you have to know some chemistry. All I need is two tools. a crosscut saw and a lathe."
Art always had some humorous cutting observation to make about life. We saw him at Sunday breakfast on the deck overlooking the Bolinas Lagoon at the local Rod and Boat Club. When I was just beginning to become a serious woodworker, I took my first efforts of outdoor redwood furniture to him for approval. Yes, he was kind and patient and would point out only the good points.
Once mentioned here in the forum as a cautionary that whenever I went into his shop I never saw him wearing a dust mask. And he smoked too.
It was right across the road at Ed Letter's that the beautiful 48' Eldridge-McGuiness knockabout schooner, Elisabeth Muir, was built by John Linderman and Babe Lamerdin. (Ten years of weekends - with the salami at lunch and the french bread and spicey limericks sliced on the Walker-Turner.) A true masterwork as well. Ahh, those were the days....
He specialized in Claro Walnut, mostly because it was locally available, beginning with bowl turning. (From an interview found on the net) "You don't have to know anything to work with wood. If you're working with metal or ceramics, you have to know some chemistry. All I need is two tools. a crosscut saw and a lathe."
Art always had some humorous cutting observation to make about life. We saw him at Sunday breakfast on the deck overlooking the Bolinas Lagoon at the local Rod and Boat Club. When I was just beginning to become a serious woodworker, I took my first efforts of outdoor redwood furniture to him for approval. Yes, he was kind and patient and would point out only the good points.
Once mentioned here in the forum as a cautionary that whenever I went into his shop I never saw him wearing a dust mask. And he smoked too.
It was right across the road at Ed Letter's that the beautiful 48' Eldridge-McGuiness knockabout schooner, Elisabeth Muir, was built by John Linderman and Babe Lamerdin. (Ten years of weekends - with the salami at lunch and the french bread and spicey limericks sliced on the Walker-Turner.) A true masterwork as well. Ahh, those were the days....