People who inspire us

We follow many ‘creatives’ both locally and on social media.
This week we learned about Ariele Alasko, a talented artist from New York, by way of California, with an amazing gift for woodworking. Artists like this are what make collecting and designing an addiction.

To us, her work is pure gold.

Here’s a snippet from her website we think you will enjoy.

Ariele Alasko is a full-time woodworker living in Brooklyn, NY. Originally from California, she attended Pratt institute in BK and has a BFA in sculpture. Ariele started building furniture for her own apartment shortly after she graduated in 2009, and it swiftly grew from a fun hobby taking place in her small living room, to a full time job in her 900 sq ft studio.

Her primary material of choice for her patterned work is plaster lath, small strips of wood that come from the old walls of hundred-year-old buildings here in Brooklyn. Fairly available due to the constant gutting of these old brownstones, she collects the materials, cleans it, and uses the woods natural coloration and patina to create intricate patterns in her work, without the use of any stains.

Each piece takes days or even weeks to complete, as every strip of wood is cut individually to attain a perfect fit, making sure the resulting panel or table top is level, smooth, and without any gaps.

Nearly two years ago she discovered a great love for carving spoons, and has become well know as a spoon maker, carving everything by hand.

If you would like to know more about Ariele Alasko, visit her website www.arielealasko.com

Follow her on Instagram at: https://instagram.com/arielealasko/