Artist Profile - Brad Adams

What is your genre and how do you describe your art? My genre is wood carving. Essentially my favorite thing to do is to carve wood that’s on it’s way to somebody’s fireplace, or to a landfill. I try and take that wood and create something that is both beautiful and functional. I do a lot of functional art, (such as) salad bowls, urns and vessels…something that can actually be used every day and be passed down through the centuries as opposed to something that just hangs on a wall and gets swapped out when somebody redecorates.

Where do you get your materials? I talk to a lot of city arborists, tree service people, other wood trimmers give me calls, former customers even call me when they see a tree coming down.

How long have you been doing this kind of art? A little over 12 years. I started out actually making furniture. I was making a table leg.  I tried to make a bowl just to get the feel of the new tools and such, and after I turned over my first bowl, it was like a dream. I’ve been making bowls and vases ever since. I never did finish that table leg.

Where do you do your work? I have a shop out in the Industrial Park right on Industrial Way by the Mothball Fleet. It’s nice because I can make as big a mess as I want. Sometimes I generate a large amount of wood shavings in a single day. I’ve got big ten foot roll up doors and I can close the doors and let the shavings sit. I’m right by the refinery and nobody gives me any grief if I make a lot of noise or make a mess. They say art is messy, and artists make a bigger mess than everyone else.

How do you feel about being included in the Benicia Art Auction?  I really enjoy it. I donate a piece every year.  It’s not my typical venue. I do a lot of street fairs, and I’m in a few galleries, and I’m a licensed street vendor in San Francisco.  At the Arts Benicia Live Auction it's kind of neat to see who gets the pieces and the excitement of the people going for them. So I’ve been donating pieces for years.