Marengo County
Weathered Cedar Boxes
What started
as a competition to out-do his father has become quite a hobby for Mark.
Several years ago his father saw something similar to Mark’s cedar boxes in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
He came home and built one of his own designs. This inspired Mark to try to
make one even better! From this challenge over sixteen years ago, Mark has
honed his skills and created many interesting pieces.
His work
begins with the collection of weathered cedar found mostly in the Demopolis
area. “To be able to take a piece of wood that has been dead for years,
worthless to most people, and make something of use, worth, and beauty is what
inspires me,” says Mark. Boxes take varied amounts of time to complete
depending on how many are being built and the different stages that are used in
the process.
In addition
to his cedar boxes, Mark has created mirrors, picture frames, lamps, tables,
slide jewelry boxes, and candle holders. He has done all of this with the most
special training available - training from his father. Mark admits that he only
began working with cedar to out-do his father, which he says that he did! Mark
has traveled to craft shows but never really thought this would become a
serious business. For now, he sees his hobby as a great stress reliever. He
enjoys doing something that has no blue prints, no set customer, and no time
frame for finishing.
Mark has sold some of his work
to individuals and given others as gifts, but he has not pursued the marketing
of this craft in other venues.