Beth Ireland

Roslindale, Massachusetts

Good buds

(Two Boxes in the Bark)

Bark, Mahogany & Poplar

NFS

Photo Credit -  Jennifer Moller

Beth Ireland

Beth has been a professional turner and furniture maker in Roslindale, Massachusetts since 1980. From 1999-2001 she was Director of the Wood Program at the Worcester Center for Crafts. Beth’s work has been widely exhibited throughout New England and her extensive teaching experience includes demonstrations for dozens of guilds and symposiums, including the American Association of Woodturners and the New England Woodturning Symposium.

“As a woodworker,  I produce architectural items that allow me to practice my craft and develop my ability to resolve technical problems.  As an artist,  I can take these skills and use them to play and create the vision in my mind’s eye.  My pallet is the texture, color,  line and shape that I see in the world around me.  My inspiration is the mystery I feel when looking at an object from antiquity.   I love thinking about the person who made it.  Why did they make it?   What in their environment inspired them?   What thoughts were in their heads as they went through the tedium of repetitive motions that most craft involve?   Most of my work consists of objects that could be functional.  I like the idea of the viewer trying to figure out what the piece could be used for.  Most of all,  I am drawn to the pure joy of making things.”

“Good Buds”

 Beth Ireland