Gary Krauss |
The rugged mountains of western Maine form the backdrop for my new line of
live-edge furniture. Lakes nesting between mountains; rushing rivers cascading
through canyons; straight pines and stately maples standing proud in the northern
forest provide me with my daily inspiration.
As a fourth generation woodworker, I learned my craft as a child at my father’s
workbench in California; leaving to pursue Eastern History at the University
of Guam then returning to my first love, woodworking, to form a lucrative remodeling
business, Home Revitalization in New York City.
On a flight west to visit my family in Los Angeles, I met a flight attendant
named Chris and within a year I was living in a beautiful Victorian Bed ‘n
Breakfast in East Wilton, Maine. Our daughter and son have been an integral part
of the family business and are now following their own creative journeys.
I still do custom interiors, but my horizons have expanded to include my true
love– designing and building unique furniture.
My philosophy is simple...I believe that sustainable forestry begins with
wood-use efficiency.
For me, wood-use efficiency begins with a search for low value logs, often destined
for the pulp mill. Not too many years ago, the first cut or bark edge of
the log, was thrown into a woodstove to heat my woodshop. Now I utilize
the whole log, from bark to heartwood, to make my unique line of frames and furniture.
Instead of throwing the unused pieces into the woodstove, I now save the scraps
for area artisans who make turned wood pens, salt and pepper grinders, and free
form lamp bases. I even give the wood shavings to farmers for animal bedding.
Now that is wood-use efficiency!
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