“There must be a union between the spirit in wood and the spirit in man. The grain of the wood must relate closely to its function. The abutment of the edge of one board to an adjoining board can mean the success or failure of a piece. () Gradually a form evolves, much as nature produces the tree in the first place. The object created can live forever. The tree lives on in its new form. The object cannot follow a transitory “style”, here for a moment, discarded the next. Its appeal must be universal. Cordial and receptive, it should invite a meeting with man” MenShouldFirstsMeanMomentsFormSpiritNextForeverPiecesTreeStyleDesignObjectsProduceUniversalFunctionUnionsMeetingsEdgesWoodsRelateAppealsEvolveBoardsInvitesGrainFurnitureLive ForeverReceptiveDiscardedTransitoryCraftsmanSuccess Or FailureTree Of LifeArtisansWoodworking Author:George Nakashima
“Each flitch, each board, each plank can have only one ideal use. The woodworker, applying a thousand skills, must find that ideal use and then shape the wood to realize its true potential.” UseRealizingThousandShapesSkillsIdealsWoodsBoardsTrue Potential Author:George Nakashima