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Biography From expressive carved bowls to hand-carved spoons, useful to abstract,
Steve’s creative work in wood makes people stop, look -- and touch. He
has been involved in art and woodworking since he was seven years old, and it
has permeated his life since. |
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"It is hard to believe that I have been working with wood for over 50 years, and still spend most of my time sanding. When I was eight years old an elderly Finnish gentleman who lived within earshot of AuTrain Falls in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, introduced me to serious woodworking. His simple, logical approach to working with wood and his reverence for good hand tools gave me a foundation for what was to become a life-long interest. Although sidetracked several times, I always knew that I needed to live remotely in the U.P. forests and make nice things from wood. The natural finish of my pieces and their tactile impression is as important to me as their flowing, organic designs. I feel it is important to spend time with each piece—it takes time to help the form emerge and nothing of value is created without investing yourself in your work. The extension of this ethic, if that is what it is, is that each work, whether a large bowl or a small spoon, is finished as though it is a piece of fine jewelry. I particularly enjoy the creative conversion of a tree I’ve known into a special work of art. I feel fortunate to be living my dream and to be able to share the fruits of my work with so many nice folks."
Steve Schmeck Selected Juried / Invitational Exhibitions & Awards2004 ManyTracks -- Sue Robishaw and Steve Schmeck
We live and work in our home, studio, and shop in the northwoods of
Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Our art, our work, our lives, and our play
interweave and blend to such a degree that it is often hard to tell where one
ends and the other begins, which is how we like it to be. |
Artist Statement