Art Chowder January | February, Issue 25 | Page 14

I
love it when pieces seem like
they are floating or moving because
it gives people a smile.
My MTP (massively
transformative purpose)
in life is to “Escape From
Gravity” and that developed out of
my life of work in aerospace and art,
and my physical journey with RA.
Because I love to fly, I dream
of flying into space, and I love
those pieces of art that let people
escape.  Every day I have to escape
— from the high gravity of my bed
— and keep this old body rolling!
Art Chowder: Live edge work?
Erik: By that I mean wood that still
has some of its natural shape and
character. I use sticks or milled slabs
where the bark may be removed but
it still retains a natural edge. I joke
that I’m allergic to measuring tapes
and straight lines. I do use them,
but prefer not to. I enjoy live edge
and unusual shapes even though it
makes it difficult to join some things
together.
Art Chowder: You dream of going
to space. Do you think there may
be intelligent life out there?
Erik: Yes. Why not? Because there’s
evidence of us floating around out
here in space, unless we’re fooling
ourselves. Haha. So, why not? There
are so many planets and stars that
there’s bound to be more life out
there.
There are some conspiracy theory
folks pushing aliens and cover-ups
on us, but I have a hard time with the
urgent hype.
It feels manipulative and the
“evidence” I’ve seen is rather sketchy
and doesn’t stand up to scientific
inquiry. But I remain open — just
haven’t seen any for myself.
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ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE
Art Chowder: *LOL* All right. In
your recent podcast on thelindberghs.
com you say, "Have the courage to
make a cut that will either ruin it or
make it." Please explain.
Erik: Sometimes it’s hard to decide
how to use a piece of wood, but it’s
so beautiful and unique that if I cut it,
then it will be cut and I can’t put it back
together again.  I have to put it away
for a while until I have the courage (or
enough frustration) to take the risk that
may ruin it or may make it. This is really
another metaphor applicable for other
difficult life decisions.
For example I have a music stand that I
started eight years ago.  I have stored and
moved it since then and finally I found
the right tool and decided how I was
going to attack it, and I did.  Initially it
was a music stand, but I decided to turn
it into a lamp so that freed it up and
allowed me to finish.  I put a channel in
it for electrical wire.  It felt really good
to get back to it and finish that piece. 
Sometimes projects need to sit and
mature in one way or another — or is it
me that matures?