Contemporary American artist Vic Barr has been building things out of wood nearly all his life, from hammering nails in 2x4s a a child to installing the floors and finish carpentry in a new home. After finding success but no lasting satisfaction in drawing, painting and clay sculpting as hobbies he returned to his medium of choice - native and exotic hardwoods of the world. Vic discovered he had an innate talent for forming clean lines and subtle curves in wood, and soon began creating unique writing instruments and jewelry chests for friends. His reputation for quality and artistic merit grew. Word-of-mouth referrals soon generated a fledgling business, Matanda Woodworks, and a local following. Signed works now live as far away as New York, Florida, California and Stockholm, Sweden.

Soon Vic had amassed the tools of his craft and transformed his basement into a studio where he honed his precision skills. With limitless curiosity, he studied the classic rules of balance, depth, and aesthetics while developing the skills of a master craftsman. Somewhere along the way he passed through the door from skilled craftsman to creative artist. But the goal of his work is deeper still — It is authoritative art that is symbiotic with nature. Vic became obsessed with finding and revealing the wonder hidden beneath the bark of a tree for the world to share.

Vic currently creates a wide range of custom pieces for his growing clientele upon request in a clearly recognizable contemporary style of his own. His meticulous insistence on quality has controlled the growth rate of the business. "I am happiest in my workshop — designing, cutting, fitting, finishing and enhancing the beauty of the woods of the world. They are spectacular in their own right. I don't stain, color, cover, disguise, or mass-produce pieces. The wood should express itself and me. And if I can reuse heritage woods that have a history or hold special meaning for the buyer, well, that's even more satisfying."

Vic Barr currently resides in ST. Louis, Missouri with his wife. Two grown children are beginning careers of their own. He exhibits his award-winning creations in various art shows throughout the region and has joined with another artist to develop a new gallery devoted to works of art with direct relationships to the natural world. His studio has crowded everything else out of his basement.

Matanda Woodworks
Vic Barr

1668 Rishon Hill Drive
St. Louis, MO 63146

e-mail Matanda Woodworks
www.matanda.com

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