Walking past the stacks of wood at Arborica with owner Evan Shively, I am reminded of the first time I went to a cherry blossom viewing in Japan; when I looked up at the canopy of pretty pink petals, I knew I was seeing only a fraction of what everyone else saw.
Walking past the stacks of wood at Arborica with owner Evan Shively, I am reminded of the first time I went to a cherry blossom viewing in Japan; when I looked up at the canopy of pretty pink petals, I knew I was seeing only a fraction of what everyone else saw.
History, knowledge, and experience were required to see deeper.
History, knowledge, and experience were required to see deeper.
Wedged into a rolling West Marin landscape not far from Tomales Bay is a road lined with salvaged trunks and stacks of wood piled high.
Wedged into a rolling West Marin landscape not far from Tomales Bay is a road lined with salvaged trunks and stacks of wood piled high.
The Harvard grad worked as a chef for many years at Postrio Enrico s and Manka s but sees his work with wood is a continuation of what I learned in the...
The Harvard grad worked as a chef for many years at Postrio Enrico s and Manka s but sees his work with wood is a continuation of what I learned in the...
...kitchen being grateful for one another Frustrated at not being able to find wood for his own creations he resorted to sourcing it and unwittingly found himself presiding over a wood salvage business
...kitchen being grateful for one another Frustrated at not being able to find wood for his own creations he resorted to sourcing it and unwittingly found himself presiding over a wood salvage business
Shively describes his business as “big, gnarly, loud, and dangerous,” but adds that when cutting wood, “the goal is to have the same regard and tenderness that you have for making furniture.”
Shively describes his business as “big, gnarly, loud, and dangerous,” but adds that when cutting wood, “the goal is to have the same regard and tenderness that you have for making furniture.”
When you saw a tree, “it dictates where it wants to be cut.”
When you saw a tree, “it dictates where it wants to be cut.”
Wood stacked along the road.
Wood stacked along the road.
A relatively small percentage of salvaged wood is good for lumber, and Shively has created a system for using the whole tree.
A relatively small percentage of salvaged wood is good for lumber, and Shively has created a system for using the whole tree.
A detail of a cross section of wood.
A detail of a cross section of wood.
Above R: “It is easy to project expectations but the trees owe me nothing,” Shively say.
Above R: “It is easy to project expectations but the trees owe me nothing,” Shively say.
Inventory in the showroom, with a sculpture of Shively’s in the foreground.
Inventory in the showroom, with a sculpture of Shively’s in the foreground.
Bay laurel, redwood, and California nutmeg are some of the woods on display.
Bay laurel, redwood, and California nutmeg are some of the woods on display.
: If you want to see Shively’s work in situ, see Steal This Look: A Garden Courtyard at Shed in Healdsburg.
: If you want to see Shively’s work in situ, see Steal This Look: A Garden Courtyard at Shed in Healdsburg.
