View Jerry Kermode's gallery

Jerry Kermode explains how he cuts up a really big piece of redwood burl into "rough out" bowls that are then set aside to dry before being finished.

Jerry Kermode

Sebastopol, CA woodturner Jerry Kermode attributes his work to “a love affair with trees.” Interested in the vitality of forests, he opts to use materials from sustainable sources to create vessels and architectural elements. Jerry holds particular respect for the long-living redwoods around his Northern California home and studio. Harvesting the large burls that occur on the trees stimulates their growth – it is these burls that the artist selects for his turned vessels.

Jerry grew up in California and in his youth built small boats and, eventually, surfboards. After a career in the restoration of Victorian architecture, he moved with his wife Deborah Kermode to Hawaii where both found a passion for the calabash culture of the islands. While living there, Jerry discovered the art of turning bowls from native woods. Now settled back in his home state, Jerry is a full time artisan and teacher who continues to enjoy sailboarding and surfing.

Selected Collections

• American Association of Woodturners, St. Paul, MN
• Contemporary Art Museum, Honolulu, HI
• Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI
• Governor and Mrs. John Waihe'e
  

	With the smaller pieces left over from the bowls, Jerry makes beautiful wine stoppers, which we see him turning, and then oiling to bring out the natural grain and color.
	Jerry is a fantastic teacher, and he even got complete novices like Grand Hand Gallery owner Ann Ruhr Pifer and her family working on the lathe, turning basic shapes. "It was an amazing - and very humbling - experience," explained Ann, "as you realize how much fun this is, and how very difficult it is to do well."