Woodworking by Jeremy Kimchi

About

Woodworking: Deep Affinity for Trees and Nature Takes Root. The Sumptuous Hand-crafted Functional Art of Jeremy Kimchi Jeremy Kimchi grew up exploring the beautiful woods surrounding his home and developed a strong love of trees. Now Jeremy takes that love, and a remarkable set of skills, and turns fine wood into elegant, warmth-infused pieces of functional art. When and how did you first develop your fascination with wood? I grew up near Ithaca, New York in the beautiful Finger Lakes region. We lived in an old farmhouse located on wooded land. Being an only child, I spent long hours exploring the woods on my own and developing a strong affinity for trees from an early age. Eventually, I learned to identify all the various species—in all seasons of the year—and I grew to appreciate their particular characteristics and uses. Years later, after making aliyah and completing my army service, I developed a deep interest in fine woodworking; the bond that I developed as a child with trees and wood now had a way to really take root. To this day, whenever I cut into a board, I immediately recognize, and revel in, the scents I learned to identify in my youth. What is it about wood as a medium that speaks to you? Wood is an infinitely varied material. Each piece is unique; a creation in its own right. Wood is also warm and inviting. A few unique and stunning pieces of art or furniture lovingly crafted from fine woods can turn any space into a welcoming space. Where did you receive your training? I’ve had several types of training. I learned the most during a very intense year in which I apprenticed to a master craftsman and artist in Pennsylvania. Following that, I returned to Israel in 1992 and promptly established my own studio-workshop. How would you define what you do? Over the years I’ve arrived at the term wood artist; I believe that accurately describes what I do. I mainly design and hand-craft one-of-a-kind pieces of functional art. My goal is to create furniture that