Matt Whittaker has worked with wood and metal for 25 years. He uses these materials to create as well as to teach others how to rediscover their abilities to make with their own two hands.
Working from a small woodland workshop, Matt uses a foot powered lathe to turn wooden items with timber from the surrounding forest, it is all turned green, straight from the tree. Sometimes an item needs a special tool with which to make it, these are the exciting times, the relationship between wood and metal comes to the fore. The charcoal forge is lit and the new tool is hammered out. Back to the lathe, foot on pedal and turning again.
Work is physical and directly connected to the personal energy available that day, this process, this wholeness from the woodland to forge to finished item is what feeds Matts' creative process. The journey is as important as the finished piece.
