Al Janonis 

I am a craftsman who has 25 years experience working with wood in Alaska. I create unique wood forms on my lathe from Alaska trees that have formed burls. 

Burls are abnormal growths on the trunk of a tree. They produce spectacular grain, form, and color. Some species form burls on only one in a million trees. Beautifully turned wood forms have been appreciated by man since antiquity and I feel it is a privilege to be allowed to contribute to that body of work. 

In my work I strive to create art forms that are both functional and pleasing to the eye. Each new piece I create must be better than the last in some way. The burls I harvest have many different shapes. 

The shape of the burl will determine its ultimate use. Round shapes become bowls and platters, long shapes become vases, and irregular shapes are divided into smaller pieces for boxes and small hollow forms.

Shaping the wood with gouges and scrapers, drying the wood, and applying up to seven layers of finish may take up to a year. The result is always worth the wait. Being able to transform the proverbial “bump on a log” into an object of art that people call “a beautiful thing” is my ongoing goal.