Chronology

Thanks to the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art for the invitation to showcase my work a couple weeks ago at FestivArts at the Padua Hills Theatre. Perfect timing to show off the newly completed Poet’s Desk just before delivery. More so perfect because a local poet inspired and commissioned The Poet’s Desk, and because a local interior designer connected us, and because FestiveArts holds the tradition and spotlight for local artists and community. Thank you for the honor of this shared moment on a historic stage.

Honored and starstruck, one of my pieces is included in the show themed “This is not a chair” at the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art. The museum is open Friday-Sunday; the exhibit is open till April 21. What’s harder to make, a chair or art? Don’t know if what I made qualifies as either, but whatever it is…

Adama, as in first man and noble dame mashed together. And if you say it backwards, amada, you have “beloved” in Spanish. Thanks to the Ahmad Shariff Gallery for giving aDama its first spotlight during this month’s artwalk in the Claremont village, Feb 3.

This may have been a window display for Montgomery Ward in downtown Pomona back in the day, prime real estate. Today it’s Third Street Gallery and they’re letting LdM occupy for one month. Three windows helped motivate last week’s experiment, three sculpted cedar chairs, with last Saturday’s artwalk being the goal for an opening exhibit.

Mr. Machado and his wife have been working smart and hard remodeling their home, knocking down walls, adding new entries, all clever and clean. His kitchen island, though, was not leveling up. So he called LdM for a fix.

Happy to feel the cavity in my chest open up a bit while making this mannequin… deeper beats, better airflow. Thanks to a very interesting man, Quique, who commissioned me to make a way to display his ceremonial jumpsuit + mask, a costumbrista from Atzacoaloya México. Stands like a scarecrow 6 feet tall, made of plywood and pvc pipe.

Wrapped up this walnut & brass library shelf a few weeks ago. Thanks to wonderful clients who brought their inspiration to me and kept the expectations high. The rolling & sliding functions of the library ladder and cabinet doors were tricky, and worth the challenge. The whole thing was an invention. In a space that wasn’t exactly square, making it work smoothly and safely was the highest priority.

Sorry to tell you this is my mom’s urn. Her remains are entombed without a way to open it without destroying it. We learned about the cancer in her stomach and the six-month prognosis in June 2022. I tried to spend as much time with her as possible. Asked her if I could make her urn, and she was delighted.

“I paint every day knowing that every ounce of strength I put into applying each brush stroke is the measure of life. My muscles aren’t vanishing, they are transforming into permanent echoes on canvas.” - Raul Pizarro

Working with Raul on his studio furniture was one of the most delightful experiences I’ve ever had. Grateful to make 5 things with him: a desk, flat file, storage cabinet, cubby, and a friendship.

Étagère…learned a new word: a piece of furniture consisting of a set of open shelves for displaying small objects. Handcrafted, made of old-growth doug fir (new & old), and delivered this week. Sondre’s input along with some geometric magic made this project a joy to complete.

When Prof. Anders steps outside her bedroom door, life is all decked out. The overhead plan keeps changing… sparing the space from daily dust and occasional rain is a top criteria, and so is a clear open sky. What would you put up above? Nothing? Seems like we’re going to finish everything else on time and on budget. Thanks to brother contractor Jesus with Coab Development for adding confidence and knowhow to the mix. 

Game’s got me hooked all day all night. Two “Tetris” shelves were commissioned and designed by Paradox Bar + Arcade in downtown Pomona. The place is a totally tubular time warp into all the cool games of the 80s & 90s. It was a rad collaboration with the owners – local artists who tap other loco artists. They provided the design concept, and LdM played with the math. Baltic birch, 3/4” thick, 13-layer plywood served up the material solution again.