Joe Oberhausen
Joe Oberhausen has worked with wood throughout his 40-year cabinet-making career, but his story’s opening is as familiar as “Once upon a time…” He says, “I started turning wood in 2013 and, after making my first natural edge bowl, I was instantly hooked.”
Soon, Joe was only woodturning, creating unique designs to distinguish his work. He focused on natural edge pieces, wood that includes the bark or tree inclusions as his raw material. “I search for unique grain patterns, unusual coloring and imperfections, and I work in harmony with those to produce a spectacular piece,” he said, before telling a great story.
“Years ago, while cutting firewood on my southern Indiana farm, I recognized the inherent beauty of grain patterns. I started setting pieces aside because I couldn’t bring myself to burn them. When I discovered woodturning, I discovered the moment these reserved pieces had been waiting for.”
For him, the outcome evolves through a series of ideas he first toys with. “Then,” he says, “the enjoyment comes from applying those to a block of wood that’s begging to partner with me in a creative dance that changes many times before the final product reveals itself.”
Early in his woodturning career, at his first gallery opening, Joe said he was nervous about how the night would unfold. “I watched people run their fingers over the curves and across the finish,” he said. “I saw a look in their eyes, not only of appreciation but of a real connection with the piece. They were feeling exactly what I did when I created it, and watching someone fall in love with something I created inspires me.”
His process begins by securing a piece of Indiana hardwood or fruit wood to the lathe, a machine that spins at high speeds. He introduces a sharp tool into the wood’s spinning path, removing shavings as the wood’s unique character is revealed. After defining the wood’s shape and purpose, he meticulously sands, applies a finish and buffs until the splendor of the bowl, vase, platter, or tray is revealed.
This woodturner finishing than turning and designing. “Each piece boasts a remarkably refined finish,” he said. “I have developed a discerning eye for well-balanced shapes. Optimal height and proportion creates the illusion that a vessel floats on the table. Even a few ounces significantly impacts the experience of holding a vessel, and that’s when the inherent beauty and design of a functional piece, like a bowl, transcends into art.”
