Spring Valley Carpenter Sees Art When Others See Firewood

It is incredible what Carl Johnson sees and then creates from what looks like just a moldy, gnarled hunk of wood. Johnson is retired and lives with his wife Nancy in Spring Valley.

Their home and his workshop overlook Sweetwater Lake and Mt. Miguel. When he is not riding his bike, hiking or preparing for a marathon with his daughter Tami, Johnson’s other hobbies including woodworking and ceramics. 

As a boy, living close to this same neighborhood, he didn’t have a television, so his father, who was a carpenter, taught him how to use a lathe and create things with his hands.  From wooden bowls to sculptures and furniture, Johnson sees potential in something we might consider firewood.