Brandon Mittman

Useless Lumber - Spalted Maple - January 2024

15 x 30 x 0.5"

Wood

$450

The cross sections of this maple wood reveal the rings that were created each year the tree was alive, as well as the patterns of bug holes and fungal discoloration (known as “spalting”) that were created after the tree died - a testament to the tree’s life and legacy in the forests of Central VA.

Artist's Statement:

I am a self-taught woodworker and artist based in Richmond, VA. My work emphasizes the aesthetic value and uniqueness of each piece of wood that I work with, rather than its practicality and usefulness. In general, all of the wood that I showcase in my work is sourced from the forests of Virginia - an homage to the tremendous quality, quantity, and diversity of the trees that grow in our own backyard.

My “Useless Lumber” series reveals the beauty that is hidden within partially-decayed wood that would otherwise be destined for the firewood pile. By cutting these pieces of wood into thin strips and displaying their cross sections in a “bookmatched” pattern, the viewer is able to discern not only the growth rings that were created when the tree was alive, but also the patterns of bug holes and fungal discoloration (known as “spalting”) that were created shortly after the tree died. These pieces are therefore able to convey the full lifecycle of a tree - from growth and vitality in life, to a supporter of ecosystems in death, and now to re-birth as a piece of art: a collaboration between man and nature.