Split Grain is allowing me to explore the hidden beauty of nature in a way that has contemporary design appeal. I try in my work to focus attention on the exquisite subtleties of wood with pieces that fit into modern lives and interiors. The project began with me taking notice of a piece of ordinary firewood and thinking it was too beautiful to burn. The shape the piece took on after I split it had such organic appeal. I started experimenting and found that when sliced, the cross sections revealed even more incredible forms and grain patterns that would normally go unnoticed. The repetition of slices accentuated those qualities even more. The final works are formal and minimal with a strong architectural sensibility which I think poetically harkens back to the noble trees they came from. I hope my work allows people to enjoy and contemplate a piece of nature in their intimate home environments or any contemporary space.
Paul Foeckler