Special Artful Woodworking
Going With The Grain: Aleksandra Zee On Making Wood Into Art
The eye of an artist and the heart of an artisan: California-based Aleksandra Zee shares her passion for working with wood as a living, organic medium
Aleksandra Zee fully embraces both aspects of her creative practice. Her craft and her art alike are important elements of her work, but the Californian woodworker keeps them in separate lanes.
On the one hand, there is her art – imposing wall hangings created from strictly geometric strips of solid wood, allowing the vibrant hues and lively texture of each piece to shine through. On the other hand, she teaches workshops and has written a book, The Way of the Woodshop, both intended to encourage beginners with an interest in craft to make, create and experiment with natural materials the way Zee herself did when she first got her start. After completing her fine arts degree and first getting hands-on with wood in her starter career as a display artist, she set up her studio and workshop, quickly specialising in the large-scale works she is now known for. Zee is currently working on a new collection that will be debuting in December.
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Do you see yourself as an artist or an artisan first?
I definitely consider myself an artist first, but I think that the transitions between artists and artisans and makers are all very fluid. I think that there is a difference between making things which are more of a functional nature, as opposed to art pieces that serve the purpose of being looked at. But I think that each maker and artisan can go into the realms of both whenever they choose. And I think that that’s the exciting and magical part of working with a medium that is, at its root, based in function, but that can be transformed into something so beautiful and abstract.
What is the main thing you associate with wood?
I love that wood is organic and imperfect, just as we are organic and imperfect. I feel like I am constantly being taught lessons about myself and life through working with wood. The process of refining and working with it is a reflection of the inner work of refining who we are as humans, on our journey through life. As I’m working through the pieces that I make, I get to dive into this meditation and reflection, all spurred on by the material that I choose to work with.
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What attracted you to wood in the first place?
I think it was just being in a woodshop. I was making things that were functional and artistic, getting the opportunity to make things like tables and fixtures, but also abstract structures and artwork. I fell in love with the versatility of the medium, and that’s what drew me to wanting to work with wood. I had played with a bunch of different materials, but I kept returning to wood.
How do you source your wood?
Something that’s really important to me is sustainability. I use all FSC-certified lumber, which means it is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, so ecosystems remain intact. I don’t want to take part in destroying forests, I don’t want to add more junk to the world, and I don’t want to take away from the resources that we have.
I usually have an idea of what I want to make. And then I will source which type of lumber it’s going to take to create that project. Often what I start with is a colour story, because there are so many different varieties and colours of wood, and then I go from there.
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The wood that I use the most is redwood – it’s my favourite type of wood to work with. They are majestic trees, and they have this brilliant wood grain that goes from pinks to blondes. Living in Northern California, you’re surrounded by redwoods. I take my dog to a redwood park all the time, and it’s awe-inspiring to stand underneath these giants that have been around for hundreds of years. I would say that my environment did influence what I choose to work with subconsciously. It feels all the more special that it is a tree local to where I live.
Do you ever go into the woods and pick up a piece of wood to make something out of?
There’s been a couple times where I’ve brought home a tree that has been cut down, but there’s a process to cutting it and drying it. The wood needs to be completely dry before you can work with it, else you run the chance of it splitting and cracking. It’s a little bit more of a laborious process, but it is rewarding to get something like a giant stump, working with it and seeing what comes of that. I wouldn’t say I make a habit of it, but I have done it.
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How did your workshops come about?
It was a very organic thing to bring into my business. I did a double major in education and fine art – I thought that I was going to be an art teacher, but life took a different path and I ended up being an artist. Teaching has always been something that I’ve loved to do, so it’s been fun to have people come to my woodshop. There’s something really empowering about teaching someone who hasn’t ever picked up a tool before how to use it. I think that the workshops will be something that I’ll do for a very long time. During COVID, I even found myself taking workshops, to learn things I had never tried and get out of my comfort zone. It really helps with our endorphins to make something with our hands and stand back and be proud that you did something you’ve never done before.
There’s nothing like teaching in person, but in the past year, I also gave online workshops a try. I think that we’re all still not fully used to living behind screens, but I am grateful that people still wanted to take workshops from me, even though it was virtual. Now, as things are hopefully getting a little bit better, we still have a lot of restrictions and guidelines, but I am welcoming very small groups back into my studio.
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Did you also notice people having more of a need for beautiful things for their home?
Once everyone settled into being stuck in their homes, a lot of people started reaching out for custom projects. People were in their houses, looking at their walls and wanting something different, and it was really great to be able to work with them on custom projects. It was like the sky’s the limit with a lot of the things that I got to do this year. Home design is kind of a hot ticket right now. I usually stay within the wheelhouse of my design, but we can do custom colours that match your house, or a defined size, often it’s site-specific, but people are usually coming to me for the overall vibe of my artwork.
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How do you describe your work?
I make geometry-inspired wall hangings. When I’m building them, I’m building a puzzle. I like to keep a steady line that runs through each piece, so they are usually symmetrical. I want my works to evoke a sense of peace and calm, and there is something about these patterns that does that for me. I’m always trying to explore intricate patterns that, when you stand back, feel minimal.
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