Wood Carver Don Tatebe at the Art Ark Gallery, Kelowna, BC, Canada

Biography
I am a self taught woodcrafter - self taught through seven years of trial and error, of blood and tears, the occasional tantrum and a few minor successes that seem to have made it all worthwhile. I started woodworking as a midlife career change, leaving a stable position in business management entirely by choice. And, except for those few occasions when starvation seemed imminent, it's a choice I will never regret.

Artist Statement
For me, as a woodcrafter, the wood is the thing. I use unusual or exceptional stock such as roots, burls, bunions or highly figured lumber and machine it simply and hope the wood will speak for itself. I view all the small giftware items that I make as merely specimens of exceptional wood presented in the form of a box, a bowl or a vase.

We have placed a selection of his carvings on this web page. We have several more pieces in stock. Please contact us to inquire what we currently have on hand. We can provide images and pricing for pieces not displayed on his web page.

What is Spalting?
Spalting refers to the natural process of decomposition and decay. In the forest when a tree falls a naturally decaying fungus invades the wood and starts the decay process. Wherever this fungus goes in the wood it leaves a black trail or a webbing of intricate black lines as seen on the panels of the wood.