About our Demonstrator:
Chris Boerner /Burner/ is an artistic woodturner, specializing in creating beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces of artwork from a variety of rare and unusual wood. Chris began his woodturning career while living in Honolulu, Hawai’i, in 1989. He has developed his skills and techniques over the years, during his spare-time, while working full-time in the elevator industry.
Basically self-taught, Chris enjoys creating intricately and technically advanced artistic pieces. He searches for unusual wood from downed trees with dynamic color and grain which may have burls, holes, or bark inclusions. Though these characteristics add to the difficulty and danger turning the wood, it increases Chris’ excitement and determination to create a piece that is truly unique.
While living in Hawai’i, Chris was accepted into the prestigious juried Pacific Handcrafters Guild of Hawai’i, and exhibited his work throughout the islands. When he moved to North Carolina, Chris was a member of the Triangle Artists Guild of North Carolina for 12 years participating in regional art exhibits, including The Page Walker in Cary and Horace Williams House in Chapel Hill. Chris thoroughly enjoys networking with other woodturners to promote and teach the art of woodturning throughout the community.
Chris’ work is part of the prestigious Waterbury Collection and featured in its book, Conversations with Wood, and has been on display at the Yale University Art Gallery, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and other prominent national art museums and galleries. He and his work have also been featured in the News and Observer and on TV.
Chris and his wife, Kathy, along with their two children, moved from Hawai’i to North Carolina in 1997 to be closer to family, where they still live today.
To learn more, visit Chris' website at www.chrisboerner.com