ART OR CRAFT?: THE MAKERS CHIME IN! FEATURED MAKER: JOE VON HEIDEKEN by KENNETH MARUNOWSKI, Ph.D. — A&E Feature Writer
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he economic, social and cultural history of Oregon is intimately connected to its landscape and specifically to one of its primary resources: wood. In the early 1900’s, lumber mills were key to establishing what is now the city of Bend. Logging persists throughout many areas of the state as a key industry, and our National Forests support this industry through selective logging and the replanting of trees to maintain both the economy and the splendor of the land. It is thus no surprise that woodworking figures importantly in the livelihood of many to this very day. Woodworking can mean a variety of things to a variety of people, with associations that range from carpentry and crafts to architecture and fine arts, particularly sculpture and woodblock prints. Its history is an ancient one, and the objects created from wood can be both utilitarian and ornamental. Because wood is an organic medium, it is subject to deterioration over time, which necessitates preservation techniques so that it may endure. Due to the diversity of wood types, both hard and soft, artists and artisans alike select varietals most suitable to their practice, choosing according to factors like grain, color, strength and durability (arthistory. net/wood). Joe von Heideken is a Central Oregon maker who specializes in creating both functional and decorative objects made of wood. A member of the Red Chair Gallery in downtown Bend, Joe’s foray into woodworking began many years ago on a cold, rainy afternoon in Northern California as he scouted an out-of-theway beach riddled with shells, rocks and driftwood. Captivated by a particularly appealing chunk of redwood, the inquisitive man cut into it and revealed a dazzling interior just waiting to be rediscovered. Such began a now over thirty year investigation into various types of wood and the creative possibilities they offer (redchairgallerybend.com/ joe-von-heideken). The following interview reveals Heideken’s thoughts about his practice in relation to the arts and crafts dyad. Heideken’s Display at Red Chair Gallery | Photo by Kenneth Marunowski
ME: Describe your art/craft.
JOE: By using properly sourced pieces of wood such as maple burls, aged juniper or redwood, I have learned to carve these pieces into bowls that can be used functionally or simply be displayed as decorative pieces. I use a chainsaw to remove any odd limbs around the chunk of wood and then employ an angle grinder with a circular chainsaw device to hollow out the bowl. Once the bowl is roughed out, I begin using coarse sanding discs to smooth out the rough areas, progressively using finer abrasives. Over time, I’ve learned that whenever I think I’ve sanded enough, I should keep sanding. This is probably the most tedious but the most important part of the process. To complete
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May 2021 | www.CascadeAE.com
