Jay Hakerem

My passion for woodturning grew out of a school elective – wood shop. That passion developed into a full-blown hobby where I learned to design and build furniture, as well as do some construction work. Years later that hobby came full circle when I stumbled upon a woodturner’s booth at the Coconut Grove Art Festival in Miami, Florida. I was intrigued, and soon thereafter joined the South Florida Woodturners Guild, where I was taken under the wing of some of the more senior members. They urged me to develop my own style and soon I discovered my passion for woodturning.

My philosophy is to work in harmony with our environment. I do not destroy nature in order to create my artwork. I use wood that has fallen naturally or has been trimmed. My intention is to show the true beauty of the tree from its original state through my art. Even if the tree’s life has ended, I strive to preserve the beauty of the wood forever. I enjoy marrying together the beauty of nature and the artistic creativity that puts “soul” into every piece I create.