Reception for David Johnson: Talking With Trees

David Johnson: Talking With Trees
reception: Saturday, Febrauary 10, 1-3 pm
on view: January 30–February 25, 2024

Trees communicate with each other underground. So it’s not unusual to find Dr. Johnson in his workshop, communicating with a new slab of wood, getting to know what it needs to be in its next life. Accepting input from the wood results in his unique pieces—when the woodworker’s hands are in harmony with the tools and the wood, magic happens. In addition to David’s famous cutting boards and household items, there will be new tables of various sizes and styles.

After fifteen years of practicing as an emergency physician, David suffered a stroke that impaired his speech, reading and writing abilities. He was forced to retire at age forty-two. He came home from the hospital in a wheelchair, but rigorous rehabilitation gave him the ability to use all four limbs again. He took the opportunity to pursue a life-long love of woodworking and built a woodworking shop at his Placitas home of thirty-five years.

“I am mostly self-taught and woodworking allows me a creative way to express myself. Each of my pieces is individually handcrafted of exotic wood such as ebony, purple heart and olive wood because of their variety of color and grain; no dyes are used. My work is meant not only to be beautiful but also useful.”