Randy Acker
Artist Statement
I’ve always liked wood. When I was a kid, I found it easy to work with and I could use it to make stuff that seemed pretty cool back then. Today I still like working with it, but more than anything else, I’m now fascinated by the infinite variety and extraordinary beauty that it offers, something I very much enjoy sharing with others.
My goal in working with wood is to design and build for people who want both utility and beauty in the items that are a part of their everyday lives. I’ve long been drawn to science and the natural world, and believe that the more connected we are to that world, the more we are inclined to truly value our natural heritage. For me, wood is a perfect medium for creating a bridge between the natural world and our everyday indoor environments. The qualities it offers are a reflection of the environment in which it grew, and when fashioned into things we see and use every day, that beauty becomes a part of our lives.
I enjoy the process of discovery that is involved in working with wood. While I certainly acquire wood for specific projects, I also like reversing the process so that I search first for wood I’m drawn to, and then work to discover what I think it might best become. Where possible, I like to find ways to use natural edges in my work since they serve as another reminder that wood, no matter how carefully cut and finished, is still a product of a natural environment. Beyond such edges, I like working with wood that has obvious natural defects, such as cracks, knots, or insect damage. I incorporate these defects as design elements in the pieces I produce since they too show us something about the environment that produced the wood we admire. I also like creating patterns in wood, either through the use of unusual grain or through the combination of various colors and lines.
While it’s easy to meet our needs with things that are purely functional, I believe that if we do so, we miss an opportunity to enhance our lives with the beauty that is part of the world around us. It’s my hope that by creating unique pieces that combine utility with artistry, I can help others in meeting their everyday functional needs while at the same time helping to bring the beauty of the natural world into their lives.
