In 2001, I enrolled to study fine woodworking and instantly saw it as a limitless universe falling in love with everything about the craft from the physicality, precision and process.
The foundation of my career begins with the desire to create high level unique work. Along with personal pursuits in the field of woodwork and art I have spent over twenty years in a variety of roles from master carpenter on historical interior restorations to bench woodworker/maker for well-known furniture, furnishings and instrument companies based in Philadelphia, Manhattan and Maui where meticulous craft was the expectation.
Studying jazz performance prior to fine woodworking developed a passion for artistic freedom and exploration. This translated over to my woodwork as ingenuity and originality are always at the forefront of my work and vision.
The tradition of hand carving is deeply intertwined into my life/work as I have spent an immense amount of time throughout the last twenty years sculpting wood. I love being part of one of earliest forms of art and expression. Hand carving is jazz, a constant interplay between the eyes/hands/mind/wood/tools giving a piece true soul and presence.
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“From organic abstractions and dreamscapes to capricious pop art and finely honed utilitarian objects, Brian's work simultaneously evokes a comforting familiarity and the awe of glimpsing the farthest reaches of an inexhaustibly creative mind. His commitment to carving almost exclusively by hand results in exquisite detail, surface texture and three dimensional shape, defying the raw material of flat planks, and gently coaxing it into a new, deeply expressive life.”
Carolyn Macuga, art historian and educator
Resume:
Jazz Performance studies : Bucks County Community College and Temple University : 1995 - 1999
Fine Woodworking studies : Bucks County Community College : 2001- 2004
Exhibitions:
Wharton Esherick Museum themed competition : 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Paoli, PA
Contemporary Mixed Media Exhibition: (Furniture Society Conference 2003 Elkins Park. PA
I Can Live with That: Unique Functional Furniture 2004 Kutztown University, PA
CORE10 Award for Sculpture 2004 Bucks County Community College, PA
WORKS IN WOOD 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2022 Bucks County, PA
TAKE ISSUES – 2008 Washington DC
ACROSS THE GRAIN 2008 - Malvern, PA
Fine Woodworking XXX – 2009 Bucks County, PA
500 Cabinets – 2010 Lark Books
Raise up Japan - 2011 Philadelphia, PA
Poplar Culture: The Celebration of a Tree 2012 Paoli, PA
Philadelphia Art Alliance Shop on the Square 2014
Savor 2012 New Hope, PA
Analog A Go Go 2012-2019 Milton, DE
view photography at www.flickr.com/photos/brianfromthefuture/
thanks to:
the usual suspects!
Mike Quinn of Quinn Hardwoods in Langhorne, Pa who supplied me with all of my lumber since 2001 that has inspired all of these works!
My first jazz guitar teacher John Sheridan.
Tom Giacabetti my guitar teacher for over 3 years, a master and kind soul. Tom sadly passed away a few years back but his influence is eternal. Check out Tom at www.youtube.com/@laser1921
And my first jazz improv teacher and true legend Ben Schachter ... thanks for being an amazing friend/inspiration.
In 2001, I enrolled in a woodworking program led by one of the pioneers in contemporary woodwork Mark Sfirri. Mark exposed me to not only to traditional woodworking technique but also the freedoms and possibilities well outside "the box". www.marksfirri.com/
Jon Alley for teaching me the most beautiful artform of woodcarving.
and my woodworking Shihan, Peter Hedstrom
My friend Brian is that rarest of people- a truly original thinker and feeler. His art never fails to astound and excite me. I'm not a visual artist, but a musician, so I don't have the technical knowledge to defend my statements about the impact of Brian's art. I only know that the impact is real, and is immense. In my musical world, we talk about the impact of people like Coltrane and Hendrix, and we use words like transcendent, relentless, startling, prodigious, questing, etc. These words and all the others that we use to describe experiencing art can probably be summed up in one word- love. Ultimately, the work is about love. I think this best describes the art of Brian.
- Ben Schachter, jazz musician and educator
