Danby Gathery Art Works

Within the walls of the cozy shed on the back of her house, Marika turns logs into simple, graceful works meant to bring beauty to our everyday. Her journey with woodworking started when she and her husband bought an old home in need of much TLC. While sanding floorboards and building cabinets was fun, she found her true passion the moment she turned her first object on a lathe—a beer tap for her brother.

 

When it comes to turning, each piece of wood donated by a friend or found on Marika's property is a new adventure waiting to happen. Peeling away the raw surface to expose the inner characteristics of the wood results in new discoveries each and every time. Marika’s passion for the art form is fueled by the creativity and flexibility needed to respond to whatever surprise the wood has in store. What starts out in the mind's eyes as a bowl may end up as a small plate, while plans for a candlestick may ultimately yield a vase. A piece of maple gnarled from decades of stress is probably hiding some gorgeous grain. Every turning is a journey alongside Mother Nature.

 

The simplicity of a bowl with a well-balanced and pleasing profile belies the thought, preparation, and perseverance required to make it. Marika loves to share the resulting beauty of turned wood, while still giving the admirer a moment to consider the origin and path the wood took to reach its new form. We hope you take a moment to imagine the life of the tree that once contained the object you’re looking at.