In a culture that celebrates the ephemeral and transitory, art and beauty that is lasting and generational is truly transgressive. I’m drawn to functional pieces that are appreciative of the past and thoughtful towards the future. My work is grounded in an Old World aesthetic with an American twist--you’ll notice the hallmark of hand tools accentuated in designs you might find in modern shops. 
 

 The pieces I make have a long history of creation by the marginalized and disenfranchised--peasants and country folk who made what they could with the materials they had on hand. This vernacular style is emphasized in the “unfinished” character of the pieces--though that simply means they’re made to reflect life that is focused more on home and family rather than prestige and power.
 

As an English teacher at Santa Rosa Junior College, and having built my own house, I appreciate the benefits of laying strong foundations--whether academically or structurally. The artists I’m most influenced by seek to preserve a foundational history in the pieces they make--they are craftspeople who have continued to pass on, through their work, the stories of those who came before. The pieces I create are made so you can imprint your own story upon them. I hope they will become a foundation upon which your own legacy can stand. 

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to be here. I’m very grateful! 

 

Jake Aharonian