Ejler Hjorth-Westh

Chair Making

From the woodshop in 4^th grade to the communal basement shop at Teacher’s College in Denmark, my love for wood was awakened. Later in California, I learned new woods, techniques and aesthetics through boat building, and a 2-year study with James Krenov.

Now I’m teaching at the College of the Redwoods and making furniture in my shop in Elk, and here I have discovered the endless possibilities of my medium of choice: The world offers us thousands of species of wood as well as the individual character of each tree from where they grow. 

I was recently asked, if I, as craftsman, would reach a plateau someday, a peak of knowledge and inspiration, where mastery would make easy perfect achievements of  design and workmanship.

I answered, not a chance. The palette is infinite, and I will discover all I can, being humbled in the process, remaining, in the spirit of the word, an amateur.