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our home , but we couldn ’ t afford to buy it , so we built it . Early on , I didn ’ t put much thought into wood selection . Wood was just a product I used to build something . Over the years , I ’ ve grown to appreciate the unique characteristics of each piece of wood , and now I often design projects so that they highlight the wood ’ s inherent beauty .
SN : What other inspirations have you incorporated into your artwork as time has gone on ? BW : Most of my early designs were inspired by the work of Gustav Stickley , an American furniture designer from the early 1900s who is best known for creating Mission-style pieces . For the past few years , I ’ ve been drawn to more modern designs that incorporate subtle curves and the use of metal or stone as accents .
SN : Do you sell your art ? BW : My wife , Nichole , and I both make things , and a few years ago we started a home-based business , Als Ik Kan Designs , and we sell online and at local craft fairs . We also do custom work for clients .
SN : Do you have a website ? BW : Our website is www . alsikkan . net
SN : Can we find your art on social media ? Handles ? BW : Yes , we are on Etsy , Facebook and Instagram – search for alsikkandesigns .
SN : Is there anything else you would like to share about your art ? BW : A lot of folks ask me what Als Ik Kan means . “ Als Ik Kan ” is an old Flemish phrase that means “ to the best of my ability .” That represents my approach to the things I do and make . If something is worth doing , it ’ s worth doing to the best of my ability . �
LIGHTS OF LIFE
The 2017 edition of the annual Lights of LIFE on the campus of Life University ( LIFE ) will commence on Thanksgiving evening , Thursday , November 23 , and will run every night , rain or shine , through New Year ’ s Eve , Thursday , December 31 .
LIFE introduced the Lights of LIFE in 1989 as a gift to the local community , and it has now grown to be one of the most popular light shows in the Southeast , attracting nearly half a million spectators from the surrounding region . Cars , vans and buses cruise through the spectacularly illuminated campus each year , often stopping along the 1.5-mile drive to enjoy an array of seasonal entertainments .
Costs are $ 5 per car Monday-Thursday , $ 10 per car on Friday- Sunday and November 23-26 , December 15-31 , and $ 20 per bus at any time . Families are encouraged to come during the week to take advantage of the lower price , as well as to avoid the busier weekend traffic . The display opens at dark every night and runs until 9:00 p . m . Sunday through Thursday and 10:00 p . m . on Fridays and Saturdays .
Each year , the display is a little different , making each experience unique . With more than one million LED bulbs , combined with the low cost , Lights of LIFE is the most affordable , quality light display in the metro area .
As in years past , Santa Claus will be visiting on weekends for photographs . Pony rides ($ 5 per rider ), train rides ($ 3 per rider ) and the petting zoo ($ 3 per person ) will also return , as will our concession stand , offering seasonal drinks and snacks for purchase .
The Lights of LIFE is a zero-profit operation . Per-car fees go to offset the cost of electricity and those associated with ongoing operations . Fees for individual goods and services are at the discretion of the vendors . �
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