{ meet David Marks }
You probably know him as the host of DIY Network’s “Wood Works.” But to those who have become his students and friends, David Marks is so much more – philosopher, artist and mentor.
rofessional woodworker David explored hand-cut dovetails together What inspires a man to spend even PMarks finds one-on-one teaching and built a Shaker-style box. an hour away from his family during rewarding, but was especially moved That day, the soldier shared photo- the course of such a short leave? by a recent experience with one of his graphs of furniture from one of Saddam While far from home, this young man students. He spent the day with an Hussein’s palaces, which he had visited had seen Marks perform miracles in American soldier who was on two-week during the first part of his tour. He had the workshop on his television show leave, after which the serviceman was been on the front lines for a year, and “Wood Works,” which airs on the DIY scheduled to return to his station in faced a similar stint upon return. Yet he Network. In the midst of mayhem, a Baghdad. This soldier’s wife had wanted was willing – no, “thrilled” is the right half-hour of woodworking was always a to give her spouse a very special gift, word – to spend one of his 14 precious welcome reprieve. so she booked a whole day with Marks, days of leave in a one-on-one class with While there was no question that
JAMIE TANAKA PHOTOGRAPHY JAMIE TANAKA during which the two woodworkers Marks. Marks regarded the soldier as a hero,
01.05 | WOODCRAFTMAGAZINE 59 { meet David Marks } for example, he has become something of a role model for young people. “I get e-mails telling me how it has impacted their lives and changed the way they spend their free time,” he says. Marks tries to balance his teaching and exhibition schedules with time spent on the television show and in the shop. Back in the early ’80s he started out working alone. After a while, he missed the company of others, so he now has a full-time employee. While solitude was a necessary element for the creative process at times, it also could be a little overdone. As his career progressed, he began to teach and share what he was learning. “It was nice to have somebody else come in and bounce a few ideas around,” he says. “And it validated what I was doing. To have them value my work was uplifting, encouraging. “Teaching helps me collect my thoughts. It clarifies what I know, and by articulating it to somebody else, it strengthens that knowledge in me. That only serves to improve the quality of my own work. We all develop systems. We go into the shop and switch on autopilot, performing familiar tasks in a routine manner. When somebody inter- rupts that routine and asks ‘Why?’ – well, it makes you think about why, THE ARTISTIC SIDE of woodworking is evident in many of Marks’ pieces. His attention doesn’t it?” to detail and knack for design have earned him numerous awards and commissions. Part of what David Marks teach- es is paying attention to fine details. he was humbled to find that the feeling secrets of bentwood lamination or the Technically brilliant while it sometimes was reciprocal. intricacies of bandsaw veneering. challenges established aesthetics, his “My goal,” he says on his Web site, own woodworking is both art and A love of learning … “is to provide small, accessible classes craft. In California, his pieces grace and teaching to fellow woodworkers, and to have the galleries such as Tercera, William Marks is an erudite, yet humble soul. opportunity to engage in an open dia- Zimmer, Gumps and Gallery M. He His vast knowledge of woodworking logue about woodworking.” has had work on display in New York and the countless awards he has earned Marks takes his classroom on the at the American Craftsman Gallery somehow still seem to surprise him. road too, teaching an array of subjects in Rockefeller Center, and in Boston Here is a man who uses language nationwide at venues like Woodcraft at the Gallery NAGA. And his pieces beautifully. He peppers his speech with stores, the Woodworking Shows, and appear in numerous collections across complex concepts, but does so in such the famed Marc Adams School in the country, from the Contemporary a relaxed manner that nothing escapes Franklin, Ind. Based on his clients’ Museum of Art in Honolulu to the his audience. He is, by nature, a teacher. requests, he schedules such classes as Brookside Institute in New Jersey. People travel from all over the country bowl turning, finishing and inlay tech- He currently has work on display in to spend a few days in his quiet Pacific niques. the Sculpture Garden of the Paradise Coast workshop, learning in small Teaching has led to some surprising Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa, Calif., groups or one-on-one as he shares the rewards. As the host of “Wood Works,” where he also built the bar. It took 250 PHOTOGRAPHY JAMIE TANAKA
60 WOODCRAFTMAGAZINE | 01.05 Here is a man who uses language beautifully. He peppers his speech with complex concepts, but does so in such a relaxed manner that nothing escapes his audience. He is, by nature, a teacher.
hours to complete and showcases dou- work from the greatest artists in histo- history. This further laid the foundation ble-double marquetry set into the bar ry,” he says. “What an inspiration!” for his own design work, but to express top – a collage of purpleheart grapes This early exposure to the classics that vision, he needed to perfect his and quilted mahogany leaves, where has guided his hand throughout his technical skills. He finished out the the carefully selected quilted grain rep- career. decade with hands-on training in vari- resents veins in the leaves. “My inspiration is derived from ous cabinet and furniture shops and, by In California, Marks’ work has a fusion of styles including ancient 1981 – married and the new owner of a been exhibited at the Brand Library Egyptian, African, Art Nouveau, Art home and workshop in Santa Rosa – he Art Galleries in Glendale, the Art Deco and Asian,” he says. The influ- was ready to spread his wings. Furnishings Shows in Pasadena and ence of ancient Egypt was underscored He spent the next 10 years building Santa Monica, the Museum of Craft and early on when he witnessed the splen- one-of-a-kind furniture, melding mod- Folk Art in San Francisco and the del dor of the traveling King Tut exhibit ern influences – Sam Maloof, James Mano Gallery in Los Angeles. Pieces and saw first-hand the magnificent Krenov, Wendell Castle, Art Carpenter have appeared in shows curated and Gary Knox Bennett by the American Crafts Council among them – with his classi- in both Baltimore and San cal roots. During this period, Francisco. He has exhibited at an audience of his peers began the Sausalito Arts Festival, the to celebrate his craftsmanship Masters & Apprentices Show and originality with a series of in San Rafael, the Sculpture awards. Objects & Functional Art Then, a dozen years ago, his Exhibition in Chicago and doz- career and his vision moved in ens of other prestigious venues a new direction. In the 1990s, across the country. his focus shifted more toward woodturning and sculpture. Influences and By 2000, he was exhibiting education pieces in Los Angeles, and the Growing up in New Jersey, following year he earned two Marks took full advantage of prestigious NICHE awards in his ability to skip into the city Philadelphia in the categories and spend a day at New York’s cele- artistry that existed in the Valley of the of mixed/miscellaneous media, and gar- brated Metropolitan Museum of Art Kings in 1300 B.C. den art/sculpture. whenever he wanted. Art was a way During the 1970s, Marks studied art Given all the aspects of his craft – of life in his home – his mother was at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, Calif., contemporary furniture, patination fin- a classical piano player. At the Met, where a degree still requires students to ishes, creating Arts & Crafts, Shaker and he was astounded at the quality of the tackle design and color, three-dimen- contemporary pieces for the television
HAP SAKWA PHOTOGRAPHY HAP SAKWA art. “Right before me was the very best sional form and a healthy dose of art show – Marks says that turning is per-
01.05 | WOODCRAFTMAGAZINE 61 haps his favorite. you bring the workpiece to the tools – a endeavor offer so many options?” “It’s the most fun,” he laughs. “I tried board to the saw, perhaps, or a joint to In his own shop, there’s little evi- pottery and working with clay in high a mortising machine. In turning, you dence of the production machinery school, but it was so hard to control. bring the tools to the wood.” common to so many pros. All of his Wood, while it certainly presents other He likes the nonlinear shapes turning equipment uses single-phase power, challenges, at least holds its form. And it produces, as opposed to the usual box- although he does have some substan- is relatively stable.” like fare common to most woodwork- tial machinery – a 12" Parks planer This is a man who values stability. ing. Turning and sculpture have led him keeps company with a 1940s bandsaw The father of two grown children, he to explore not just shapes, but also tex- and a cast iron 16" jointer with Babbet and his wife have just celebrated their tures. He has become an acknowledged bearings. 28th anniversary. They still live on the expert in the art of patination. “The old machines have charac- property they bought back in 1981 – an “The patina finish that is a trade- ter,” he says with a smile. “These were acre of ground with a house in front mark of my work is a hybrid I’ve devel- designed by engineers and patternmak- and a horse stable behind. That’s where oped over the last decade,” he says on ers, men who relished spoked wheels he opened his first studio, and within a his Web site. “It combines painting, and built dovetailed ways into their steel
MARKS SPENDS MANY AN HOUR in front of a camera, teaching viewers of the DIY Network’s “Wood Works” the finer points of building furniture. The show is shot in Marks’ shop behind his home in Santa Rosa, Calif. couple of years the work he completed gilding (metal leafing), chemical patinas tables. The new ones don’t have the his- there earned him the Jurors’ Award and lacquering techniques. The complex tory yet, or don’t have a story to tell.” of Excellence from the Mendocino layers result in something that gives the The television show is shot here. Woodworkers’ Association. This, his appearance of an ancient, petrified stone DIY began an expanded schedule of first peer award, was a watershed in his quality.” “Wood Works” in October 2004, includ- career. It inspired the confidence to con- ing the airing of 26 new episodes. That tinue in a tough business and to find his Mixed media, mass media brings the total episode count to 91, the own path to artistry and excellence. “Woodworking is an incredible medi- last of which was videotaped in March. Turning has always been a part of um,” Marks says. “You can go into your Since then, Marks has been on hiatus, that journey, especially in the later years. shop and produce everything from a but should be back in production on “Turning is unusual in woodwork- spoon to a boat, a chair or even a com- the show over the colder months. Either ing,” he says. “In most other activities, plete house. How many other areas of way, he’ll be back on the air soon, and STEVE KOTTON
62 WOODCRAFTMAGAZINE | 01.05 candidates all over the country and it finally came down to three. “I was told that I had a pretty good shot if I was willing to get a haircut. At the time, I had long hair down to my shoulders.” Each episode of “Wood Works” features step-by-step instructions for building contemporary studio furniture, which David has designed specifical- ly for that show. To this craftsman, renowned artist and accomplished teacher, television was a natural next
one of the highlights of the new season is a show called “Masters and Mentors,” which features two of his most revered influences: James Krenov and Art Carpenter. The Krenov segment was shot in December 2003 in the master’s own workshop and on the campus of the College of the Redwoods in Eureka, Calif., where Krenov taught at the step. Like any of his other classrooms, School of Woodworking from the time it’s another way for David Marks to he created it in 1981 until his retirement share his lifelong love of woodworking. in 2002. “As worn and tattered as the phrase During the hiatus, Marks has been may sound, there is a lot of truth in the catching up on real life, and has spent premise that woodworking is therapeu- a great deal of time in the shop, on the tic,” he says. “People need to feel that road and teaching. He’s currently work- they are doing something of value, and ing on two commissions; the first is a they don’t always get that from their turned vessel which will be gilded in jobs. The Arts & Crafts master, Gustav silver leaf, the second is a gilded electric Stickley, recognized this dichotomy, and guitar for noted musician Henry Kaiser. he endeavored to teach young appren- “Wood Works” began in 2001 and tices more than a trade. He sought to features 30 episodes a year. The show instill in them, through learned skills, a came out of the blue – Marks had been role in society. Their work was to create exhibiting his work at a show in Chicago value on other levels beyond a salary. and when he arrived home, tired and We seem to have lost sight of that in hungry, his wife told him that he had these busy times. But woodworking fills To learn more about David Marks, visit www. a funny message on the answering that void, that need to create and excel, djmarks.com machine. for so very many people.” “She almost erased it,” he laughs. “She thought it was just one of my bud- John English dies playing a joke. The message was actually from a TV producer asking Originally from Ireland, John English is a trained cabinet- if I was interested in hosting a wood- maker and the author of more than 500 magazine articles. working show. That was the beginning He lives with his wife and two teenage daughters in of three months of résumés, meetings, Casper, Wyo., at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. and lots and lots of photographs. They His Web site is www.woodezine.com
LEFT TO RIGHT: DON RUSSEL, DON RUSSEL, HAP SAKWA PHOTOGRAPHY DON RUSSEL, HAP SAKWA LEFT TO RIGHT: apparently interviewed about a hundred
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