Larry Cook

A maker of heirloom quality boxes of various sizes and styles, as well as a few other assorted wooden oddities. With a variety of other interests, a day job as an electronic technician, and a tendency to get bored making the same things, you can be assured that everything I design and build is unique and of limited quantity but high quality.

Ernest and Claudia Koch
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Koch-Woodworking/

Koch Woodworking Fort Dodge, Iowa Ernie Koch, Artist Ernie Koch was raised on a farm outside of the small town of Meredosia, Illinois. He attended Southern Illinois University, graduating with a degree in Microbiology. He then worked in the veterinary biologics industry for 35 years. In 2005, he retired from his position with Fort Dodge Animal Health in Fort Dodge, Iowa to start Koch Woodworking. Ernie had always had many hobbies and interests. Woodworking was one of these interests and he spent many hours in his small woodworking shop. At first he made small pieces of furniture but soon gravitated to natural “found” woods. Natural woods provided a warmth and beauty not found in purchased wood and he began to look for unique ways to use these treasures. In 2001, a friend gave Ernie several long pieces of three by 12 inch antique yellow pine lumber from a corncrib that his grandfather had built near Clare, Iowa. The crib was being demolished so he salvaged several pieces hoping that he could have them made into something to help him remember his grandfather. Ernie decided he would try to carve some of the wood into a bowl or tray. After several false starts, he settled on the carving methods that he still uses today. The result was a beautiful bowl that his friend will be able to treasure forever. Ernie has become a specialist in carving food safe bowls of all sizes from Iowa found woods. His work has been well received at art shows throughout central Iowa. Ernie has been recognized for his unique artistic style on several occasions. All items are coated with a food safe salad bowl finish.

Jan Wormley

I sculpt birds and other animals from wood using hand and power tools. The birds are finished with a series of acrylic washes and are mounted in a realistic setting using various materials. Artist Statement I begin with my observations and reference photos and I pull different skills from my varied life experiences to bring the ingredients together to create my sculptures. I have a great love of all of nature –plants, animals, insects, snakes, etc. When people see my work, I’d like them to think about the living creatures represented there and maybe remember an occurrence in their own lives; hearing the meadowlark song at grandpa’s farm or viewing the redwing blackbird in the summer in the road ditches. I enjoy the idea of taking something that was once living and giving it new life through my art.