Chris Boerner Koa Bowl with Pewa 6.75″H x 6.75″D $750 (Sold)

Chris Boerner (pronounced Burner) is an artistic woodturner, specializing in creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces of artwork from a variety of rare and unusual wood. Chris began his woodturning career while living in Honolulu, Hawai’i, in 1989. He has developed his skills and techniques over the years, during his spare-time, while working full-time in the elevator industry.

Chris has overcome many obstacles during his woodturning journey such as working in make-shift workshops turning in temperatures ranging from sub-zero to well above one hundred degrees, during hours when most people are sleeping. Then, because he turns unusual bowls, many times he finds that he must make one-of-a-kind tools for that one-of-a-kind piece, which is very time consuming.

Finally, the greatest ongoing challenge is the search for wood. Chris has repelled down the side of a dormant volcano, received permission to retrieve downed rare woods on government properties, and removed fallen trees from homes and businesses. Chris searches for wood that has dynamic color and grain which may have burls, holes, and bark inclusions. Though these characteristics add to the difficulty and danger turning the wood, it increases Chris’ determination to create a piece that is truly unique.

Woodturners Guild

While living in Hawai’i, Chris was accepted into the prestigious juried Pacific Handcrafters Guild of Hawai’i, and exhibited his work throughout the islands.  When he moved to North Carolina, Chris was a member of the Triangle Artists Guild of North Carolina for 12 years participating in art exhibits throughout North Carolina, including The Page Walker in Cary and Horace Williams House in Chapel Hill.  Chris is a long-time member and current President of the Woodturners Guild of North Carolina, helping to promote and teach the art of woodturning throughout the community.

Chris’ work is part of the prestigious Waterbury Collection and its publication, Conversations with Wood, and has been on display at the Yale University Art Gallery, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and other prominent national art museums and galleries.  He and his work have also been featured in the News and Observer and on TV, ABC11-WTVD.

Koa

Ancient Hawaiians were using the koa trunks to build waʻa (dugout outrigger canoes) and papa heʻe nalu (surfboards).  The reddish wood is very similar in strength and weight to that of Black Walnut (Juglans nigra). Koa is also a tonewood.  Ukuleles, acoustic guitars, and Weissenborn-style Hawaiian steel guitars are very often made of Koa.

The koa population has suffered, though from grazing and logging.  The largest koa grow in wet forest areas and many of those have been logged out. Koa now comes largely from dead or dying trees or farms on private lands.

Chris Boerner Koa Bowl with Pewa 6.75″H x 6.75″D $750