Rich Smucker

Rich's mission is to collaborate with nature, partnering to reveal levity and beauty realized through recovery in traumatized and forgotten places. For him, the wood of trees is a library of lessons, a multidimensional ballet of rejoicing bumps and burls. Plants are partners in life, developing radiance during resilient recovery. It is his privilege and joy to develop techniques fostering the revelation of true colors that have evolved from twists and turns of these rings of life. Out of all the steps and tools used in the studio shop, front and center is the "Twelve Step Process" of bringing all natural colors to life, using only the wood itself as the surface coat. No synthetic or extraneous finishes are applied. The process is a mindful meditation of engaging with the wood revealing soirees of splendid flow and spectacular colors. Rich's long term residence is in Southern Maryland (Calvert County), along the shores of the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay, and also on the Central Coast of California. Living in these places has flavored his viewpoint and selections. His life good fortunes include work with the Navajo Nation Dine, international collaborations in ocean biochemical ecology and social restorations.