In an attempt to create a piece that evoked fragility and highlighted qualities of wood not typically associated with it, I experimented with green, thin-wall turning while preserving the organic edge. The bowl’s near-weightlessness and translucent qualities - paired with the tiger maple stripes - emphasize its delicacy and reveal some of the wood’s properties uncommon to most observers. The greatest challenge was controlling vibration and tool pressure to prevent cracking at such an extreme thinness; by placing a lamp on the exterior of the vessel and observing the brightness from the inside while turning, I was able to gauge the relative thickness of the walls. 

Inspired by the work of M.C. Escher, whose repetitive drawings highlighted themes of constant cycles in life, this platter reflects the journey of growth and transformation, with spiraling textures symbolizing the continuous cycles of beginnings, simultaneously mirroring the first instances of order on our planet created by primordial forces. The progression of circles, from small to large, captures the expansion of life, energy, and potential, much like ripples radiating from a single point of creation. 

This hollow form, carved and painted to resemble an ammonite fossil, symbolizes the cycle of life and renewal. The intricate, spiraling pattern mirrors the natural geometry of ancient marine life, evoking the timeless process of creation and growth. Turned from Ash wood, the piece highlights the contrast between ephemeral organic life and the enduring presence of fossils. The form serves to represent the long-lost ancient life of fossils, capturing the essence of ammonites.

This hollow form, inspired by the shape of an egg, symbolizes new beginnings and the potential for life. The thin and smooth White Oak surface represents the purity and fragility of a brown eggshell, while the three subtle ridges add a tactile contrast, hinting at the repetition of the passage of years and the potential for transformation. The small ebony lid provides a visual counterpoint, grounding the form with a sense of closure—much like the barrier between a chick and the outside world—inviting one to contemplate the contents and their potential to break free and emerge into new life.

Tanzania is one of the largest global producers of Ebony, so when I was traveling there last year, I made it my mission to acquire some of the raw wood. After purchasing a green fifteen-pound log from a craftsman and passing through customs, I began to brainstorm how to showcase the value of the wood. Competition guidelines requiring small dimensions inspired me to emphasize the box's intricacy and dense value by pairing it with another exotic wood, purpleheart. The result was a sharp contrast between two species in a ring box, lidded with a spinning top.