Clear white pine, marquetry, hand-made paper

62” h x 60” w  2007

I designed the Shunmin folding screen as a room divider.  The design, with its subtle, vertical grain pattern, provided me an opportunity to explore sweeping, brushstroke-like imagery of resting butterflies and blossoms.

The grid-work within the frames, called Kumiko, creates an asymmetrical, balanced design. The Kumiko is joined with very precise fitting half-lap joinery.  The Kumiko pieces are unglued, held together by tension alone. They are hand-cut one at a time with saw and fine Japanese chisels. 

The finish is hand-rubbed shellac, creating a soft sheen.  Discreet, shop-made brass hinges allow the panels to pivot while maintaining the visual spacing between the stiles (vertical frame pieces).

Narra and White Pine

59" x 42" x 12"  2000

The free standing screen is an interpretation of a traditional Japanese shoji screen. Shoji screens, usually made of wood with paper panels, are often used to visually divide a room and provide a sense of privacy.  The Narra and Pine screen has wood panels made of clear white pine in place of paper.

The pine panels provide a large canvas for a carving technique called chip carving, which uses a short-bladed knife to engrave a design.  Subtle, flowing reeds decorate one side of the screen. A narrow space left between the panels and frame help create the sense of delicacy that is often associated with the traditional paper and wood screens.

Clear White Pine, Hand-Made Paper

79" h x 72" w  2001

The folding shoji doors are an adaptation of the traditional techniques of the Japanese sliding door maker, or tategu-shi. The piece represents an opportunity to explore the traditional Japanese techniques of making shoji including hand-cut mortise and tenon joinery and hand-planed surfaces. The grid-work within the frames, called Kumiko, creates a rhythmic, balanced pattern. The Kumiko is joined with very precise fitting half-lap joints, cut with a special hand-made saw called dozuki (Japanese back-saw). All Kumiko pieces are unglued, held together by tension alone. They are hand-cut one at a time with saw and fine Japanese chisels. 

Hand-made Japanese paper is attached to the Kumiko with rice glue and can easily be repaired or replaced. Its translucent quality softens a room while allowing for privacy. Hand-made papers are available in a range of colors, textures, and patterns.

European Pear and Bubinga

59" x 42" x 12"  1996

The free standing screen Wagtails and Reeds is an interpretation of a traditional Japanese shoji screen. Shoji screens, usually made of wood with paper panels, are often used to visually divide a room and provide a sense of privacy. Wagtails and Reeds has wood panels made of European pear in place of paper.

The pear panels provide a large canvas for a carving technique called chip carving, which uses a short-bladed knife to engrave a design. Flowing reeds and grasses decorate both sides of the screen. A narrow space left between the panels and frame help create the sense of delicacy that is often associated with the traditional paper and wood screens.

Double mortise and tenon and exposed through-tenon joinery is used to join each of the bubinga frame pieces. The screen is finished with shellac and wax.

European pear, mahogany, hand-made brass hinges

68" x 47"  1991

My interest in exploring a free flowing style of chip carving on a large scale, led to the design and creation of the folding screen, Blossoms in Pear. The piece is meant to divide a space, much like traditional Japanese screens. The carving is done with a single, short bladed knife that allows the design to flow from my fingertips.

The pear panels at the upper areas of the screen have a creamy texture and subtle grain pattern which make a fine back drop for the carved, flowering branches that flow from one panel to the next.

Mahogany frames swing on hand-made, solid brass hinges.

Koa (Hawaii) and black walnut, hand-made paper

58" x 40" x 12"  2006

The free standing screen is an interpretation of a traditional Japanese shoji screen. Shoji screens are often used to visually divide a room and provide a sense of privacy.  The Koa Screen has panels made of koa and hand-made paper.

The grid-work within the panels, called Kumiko, creates a rhythmic, balanced pattern. The Kumiko is joined with very precise fitting half-lap joints.  All Kumiko pieces are unglued, held together by tension alone. They are hand-cut one at a time with a Japanese joinery saw and fine Japanese chisels.

Double mortise and tenon, and exposed through-tenon joinery is used to join each of the walnut frame pieces. The screen is finished with shellac.