Wood Artists

2D
Ceramics
Fiber
Glass
Jewelry
Leather
Metal
Mixed Media
Wood

Artie Reitmeyer
June Burns
Mark Mooney
Mike Grguras
Paul Sirofchuck
Robert DeWitt

Artie Reitmeyer

Artie Reitmeyer is a Pittsburgh native and currently lives in Sewickley, PA, where he maintains a studio full time. He attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania and received a B.F.A. Sculpture/Furniture Design in 1989. He has been an active member of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh since 1992. His work has been exhibited in numerous regional and national crafts exhibitions, invitational shows and galleries. http://www.reitmeyerdesign.com

June Burns

We have been creating scroll saw art puzzles since 1984. All work is both our design and creation. Each puzzle is individually cut by hand on a scroll saw, sanded, stained and painted, resulting in a unique, three dimensional work of art.

With respect to our natural world as well as human-kind our work is safe and non-toxic. Our designs reflect our love of nature as well as the people. Many new designs each year are inspired by the colors and shapes that surround us. It is our joy to share our journey and our mission to put a smile on the faces we meet. https://peachiepuzzles.com

Mark Mooney

Mark P. Mooney is a woodworker and co-founder of Ginkgo Studios with his wife Kathleen Allen, a potter. He is inspired by the philosophy and beauty of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Honest craftsmanship, good design, and organic materials are the cornerstones of his work. Mark has studied with Seattle-based artist and craftsman Thomas Stangeland on Greene and Greene style furniture making; Ben Little and Tom Harris, two Roycroft Master Artisans, on Craftsman style furniture making at their studio in East Aurora, NY; and Master Craftsman Jeffery Lohr on Mission Style furniture design at his studio in Pottstown PA. Mark also teaches Arts and Crafts furniture and frame making classes at GNA Woodworks in McKees Rocks, PA. Mark is a member and President Elect of the Pittsburgh Craftsman’s Guild, Touchstone Center for Crafts, and he serves on the Board of Directors of the Western Pennsylvania Woodworkers. Mark works mainly with traditional Arts and Crafts style woods such as quartersawn oak, walnut, mahogany, and ebony. The pieces at the Fair in the Park are examples of his furniture and especially his Arts and Crafts mirrors and frames, which can be commissioned and finished by the holidays. www.theginkgostudios.com

Mike Grguras

I’ve been around wood and making saw dust all of my life. My father was a cabinetmaker and his shop was in the basement of our home. My first project was a bird feeder that he helped me make when I was 5-years old. Having access to the tools, I was always making, or attempting to make something in the basement all the time. In my shop I make furniture, floating shelves, boxes, and fireplace mantels. I also turn bowls and ornaments on the lathe. My passion is live edge or natural edge pieces. The term “live edge” refers to the natural edge of the tree being left on at least one side of a piece of wood. This makes for a project that is one of a kind and cannot possibly be reproduced. It’s very important, to me, that the wood be allowed to express itself in the project that is being made. When I am commissioned to make a piece for a client, the challenge for me, is to start with wood that will provide the customer what is expected while at the same time, not reducing the wood to something other than what it could be. Sometimes I incorporate epoxy resins. I also have developed a process where I make wood look like metal. I use this process in some of the table bases to give them an “industrial” feel. When all of the elements come together, the end result is a beautiful piece that allows the wood to shine fully in all of its glory and puts a heartfelt smile on the face of the recipient. http://mgeinnovativewoodconcepts.com

Paul Sirofchuck

Woodworking, for me, is a way of life. I have a passion for the exploration of design and construction with this living material, and I find inspiration in the beauty of nature that surrounds my studio in the woods of western Pennsylvania. My work in wood reflects the elegant union of rawness and refinement, crafted using traditional joinery techniques. Formally trained as an architect, I consider my furniture design to be organic contemporary, often directly influenced by a natural-edged wood element, such as a burl or figured slab. I also interpret nature by sculpting wood into fluid, flower-like forms. At the beginning of my career I focused on simplicity with a twist: a sculpted seat, an angled leg, a tapered table edge or an interesting figured board or panel. The structural elements and joinery become the details and ornamentation of the work. As I have grown in my craft I have experimented more with organic shapes and sculpted waves in door panels and drawer fronts. Asymmetry plays an important role in my design, as a particular slab of wood will influence the shape of the casework. I apply traditional joinery to untraditional designs. http://www.SirofchuckStudios.com