Maple Burl Malachite

To Shanti Yard, the role of the woodworker is simply to know what to look for, how to look for it, and how to work with the wood’s innate patterns and characteristics. This alone is the work of a lifetime, just as the tree’s self-creation was a work of its lifetime. Once the tree’s life has run its course, fungi take over the art canvas. Mycelium runs through the inner workings of the wood, creating a new color and tone. With each piece, Yard imagines what shape lies within, taking in how the grain flows and what angles already exist in the log. Each chip, chisel, and scrape alters the wood irrevocably, so each action must be a conscious choice