John Wirth

Truly as a product of the Pacific Northwest I was born in Portland Oregon and raised in Longview Washington. In spite of several opportunities for transplantation to diverse areas I have always chosen to call the Pacific Northwest my home.

Lessons during my earliest years were shaped by a father who was a sheet metal craftsman, a mother who was a nurse , an ‘old country’ Finnish grandmother, a grandfather who was a carpenter that passed away before I was born, and an aunt who helped pass on some of those ‘old country’ Finn ways to me. The lessons in respect for woodwork came in short sessions:’close the drawer (of the sideboard) easy…your Grandfather made that’…’don’t touch that bowl..your Grandfather made that’. Well, it has been many years now and the sturdy oak sideboard and the round oak dinner table with it’s center pedestal and massive ogie curved legs are both gone, but that turned bowl still sits in a place of respect in our home. Respect for the material, respect for the ‘by hand’ process and respect for the craftsmen both present day and for those who have gone before me.

When I was a young sprout trying to figure out the future and what this great big world was all about I had asked my Dad to “teach me sheetmetal work”. His response was “NO…go to school!” So not getting very far with him I asked “Uncle Mike” who was a very good carpenter “Uncle Mike, teach me how to be a carpenter”. Well the two of them no doubt had been talking because his answer was the same: “NO…go to school!” So I did and had a profession in the medical field which I was drawn to because we could ‘make things’ to assist people with disabilities. Now that I have retired from that profession of 30+ years I can pursue my passion of MAKING with the media that I have been surrounded by my entire life.

I hope you enjoy my work as much as I have enjoyed the journey to bring it to you.

Events participated in

• 2014 Collaboration