Bryan Mordecai: My woodworking journey.
After growing up in the Caribbean, I moved with my family from Jamaica to Princeton, New Jersey, in the mid-1960's to live for two years. There, in eighth grade, I was excited to learn the symmetry of math formulas and equations. In shop class I found, similarly, deep satisfaction when I worked with wood to construct something I had sketched, measured and cut, ending in exactly what I had imagined. My first project was a small wooden condiment server carved from a single piece of cherry. This marked the beginning of my passion for woodworking.
When I returned to Jamaica, my woodworking interests receded.
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I returned to Central New Jersey to live in the mid-1980’s to work as a full-time telecom-systems engineer and grow a family. One day in a bookstore, I discovered industry-leading woodworking magazines and was stunned by their glossy pictures of elegant furniture. They re-awakened my interest in woodworking. In the back of one of them I came across a classified ad for woodworking instruction.
In the early 1990's, I made the commitment to learn the craft of woodwork from a master craftsman, every Saturday for two years. He taught me the art of hand-cut dovetails to create a coffee table from one continuous piece of wood. Eventually, when I learned to build my own piece, I recognized that I had been introduced to the art of woodwork, not merely the craft. During this period, I discovered that my brother-in-law and his son were also avid furniture makers. Their extraordinary work had a profound influence on me and continued to inspire me to make more challenging pieces as the 2000's arrived.
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After moving to central Florida in 2009, I expanded my weekend woodworking pursuits. Traveling to many South American and Asia Pacific countries for system engineering work exposed me to unique designs and workmanship that continue to influence my own craft. Most of my pieces have been created in the last decade. My wife’s artistic talents and creative use of decorative ceramic tiles have added to the beauty of many of my designs.
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Since retiring in early 2021 and launching Woodwork Expressions a year later, I have expanded my horizons, learning to satisfy the rigorous demand of inlays and dovetails – furthering my craft. I hope the range of crafts and furniture that I've built will delight you and find a place in your home.