Wood you believe it? - FH Times
Thousands of pieces of wood and at least 600 hours of labor went into creating the art piece. The previous year, he won second place for a wood trumpet. More recently the intricate and time-consuming skill of inlaid wood items is considered art. Museums, art galleries and craft festivals have embraced the art form. Like many school-age boys, Smentek studied woodworking in high school. His initial project was a television cabinet, followed by a spiral staircase, cradles for all nine grandchildren and wood pedal hobby horses, toy chests and pedal airplanes. Smentek described the process as cutting segmented wood pieces and layering them “like a jigsaw puzzle. The inspiration to make a wood trumpet came from a friend who plays in a jazz band. “I wanted something challenging,” he said, explaining that mathematical calculations come into play in designing the piece. Designs or varieties of wood come from many sources. He purchased black wood on a trip to Africa, knowing “that I had to make something with it. ”. His next undertaking will be a three-foot circular Native American-designed wall hanging for the family room. Source: www.fhtimes.com
