Matthew S. Newman, Artist Statement

My intention as a woodworker as stated at age 12:
"I want to design and build beautiful things from wood."
At the time it was just something that I thought I wanted to do;
now I know that it is who I am.
The goal is to stimulate imagination, provoke thought, and inspire others:
thru the celebration of a visual experience.
This is challenging, but communicating three dimensionally and validating
interpretations are key in establishing an open mind.
Encouragement and being exposed to a visual image
is the impetus of our future innovations.
Here - in support of free thinking inquisitiveness,
the celebration begins.
Three Dimensionally; no words,paint or sound;
a form that can exist in no other way;
completely the right size, but containing growth;
still, yet having movement; quiet with real vitality.

Matthew S. Newman   Bio

A woodworker most of his life, the small red vise that he uses today is the same vise that clamped his first piece of wood over fifty years ago.Developing a relationship with trees and their mindful use, from a climbing playground in youth, to the sawmill and the production of quality lumber as an adult. Wood is a wonderful material, be it basket, fence, barn, or sculpture. They will all stand the test of time.Born in Indiana in 1951, his first award came at age 12. It was for a small wood bowl made in shop class, then again 5 years later for a wood cut and prints from it. In 1976 after graduating with a BFA degree from Tufts University and a diploma from the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, Matthew started a 5-year sawmill apprenticeship with master sawyer Stanley Stephenson, in Stow, MA.. From tall tales to details he trained to be a sawyer. Newman Lumber started in 1981 running through 2011, providing quality material to fellow woodworkers, all the time honing skills and broadening his vision. Sept.1, 1985, brought the "Newman Basket" into existence. They have been sold around the world and are in production today. The United States Patent office, in 1987, awarded U.S. Design Patent # D 304640 to Matthew for his "Newman Basket". Collected and prized by museum, municipal and individual clients, his work goes from tiny to tremendous, playful to intense. May 2013 the move to Damascus was made, buying the old hardware store and starting "Trails ARTware", a working studio/gallery for Matthew and a few friends.