We use re-purposed materials along with new wood to develop unique pieces of furniture. His inspiration comes from these broken pieces.
Drawn in by the texture and depth of wood, Matthew Huber (chief rabble-rouser of Barn Owl Woodworking) found himself joining his father turning tables and crafts in the basement workshop of their Wisconsin home. Building furniture that is sculptural rather than functional in design, from a travelling workshop of hand tools and small power tools, Matthew begins the process by finding material and t
hen discovering from the wood itself what can be made. The western world is cluttered with discarded wood; pallets, old furniture, or green waste. By using reclaimed and repurposed material, it is a story of redemption the wood is telling. There is spiritual value in shaping something broken, discarded and forgotten for a new purpose. His designs are often limited to the material at hand. The limitations suggest a more difficult labor, but they simply allow for more creativity. Matthew prefers to work with hand tools, allowing him to work alongside others and enjoy a conversation through the work. Made of durable materials like wood, steel and brass, a selection of his tools are nearly 100 years old. They have history and memory, allowing his work to fit within a longer story. Matthew has received no formal training outside of the basement workshop sessions with his father. He was a non-resident artist of the Arts Incubator of Kansas City, Missouri where he exhibited a reclaimed maple and scrap-wood bed bench and initial pieces from his two-year-long project, The Piano Wall. His work – including the Piano Wall – is on display in Kansas City. Originally from the United States, Matthew currently lives in Dublin, Ireland with his wife and three children.
Want your business to be the top-listed Gym/sports Facility in Dublin?
