In my early wood working explorations I was mesmerized by examples of stunning bird shaped ale bowls from Scandinavia (fågelskålar, Ølhøner, Ølgås).  I can recall a specific moment when a hearty overwintering nuthatch perched, facing downward on a tree trunk, ready to dart to the bird feeder. It looked exactly like one of the beautiful wooden kuksas I was admiring at the time. This connection made my wheels spin.

Woodworking, especially green woodworking, offers a unique way to connect to the landscape. Many of my bird bowls are modeled after species that live in my home region and are created with materials from local forests. Originally these types of bowls were ceremonial drinking vessels delivering ale to thirsty mouths in times of celebration. But their meaning extends beyond their functional role as a vessel for liquid. Like many of the objects of wood culture these pieces reflected regional aesthetics, personal abilities, and the natural materials available to the maker. These objects tell a story of people in forested landscapes. I’m inspired by the celebratory social interactions that these bowls were meant to facilitate. They were made to connect people to one another through shared experience.