A Diamond Not So Rough

At LaSalle Market and Gallery 101 Main in Collinsville, Craig Diamond's wood wall art hangs among work from some of the area's most talented artists.

But the wood creations from this artist of just three years are different enough and more than intricate enough the catch the eye. The works consist of numerous geometrical shapes melded together with pocket hole joints, self-tapping screws and wood glue.

 "I really like working on wood," Diamond said. "There's so many opportunities to build geometrically abstract and nature-inspired designs."

The endless knot is one of the only non-original designs. It is an ancient Buddhist symbol that represents eternal time and movement on a spiritual path – with no beginning or end.

"It reminds us that we're all interconnected," Diamond said.

Many of Diamond's other pieces are also designed with connectivity in mind. He often creates his trees from reclaimed barn wood.

For Diamond, part of the beauty in such wood is its nail holes, weathering and other imperfections.

"This wood tells a story; so it's a very interesting process to build it," the Harwinton native said.

Interesting in its own right, is Diamond's artistic story.

While most artists are forced to work day jobs by necessity, Diamond is committed to his work as a fifth-grade teacher at Morley School in West Hartford.

While always intrigued by design, his art stemmed from the desire to decorate his home and learn how to use a power tool.

It was about three years ago when Diamond and his wife Karin were looking for some decorations for the walls of their Tariffville home.  He noticed some wood art but found the prices -- in the range of several hundred dollars -- a bit much for mass-produced art.  

Around the same time, Karin, Diamond's high-school sweetheart, bought him a miter saw for Christmas.

"So I took on the challenge of creating that first piece," he said.

He lacked formal training but not drive.

"When I have an interest in something I totally immerse myself," he said.

He began making really large pieces, roughly four by four feet.

The two at LaSalle – endless knot and overlapping squares – are designed for those bigger spaces.  

LaSalle owner Eileen O'Connor-Kaminski said she can picture the pieces at a Chinese restaurant or in the stairwell of her home.

"They're nice pieces that could be put in special areas," she said.

But Diamond has learned how to scale down the designs, which presents its own challenges when working with table and miter saws.

The art requires precision, whether it is realistic tree "branches" or the precise angles of the knot. Both designs require a seamless look. The endless knots also require taking a large piece of premium pine, creating several strips of varying widths, cutting and joining corners, applying numerous stains, securing with pocket hole joints and finally coating with a protective finish.

Often keeping him company in the shop is Sammy, the couple's yellow lab rescue dog.

Although it takes a good 12 to 15 hours to work on a piece, Diamond looks to keep his work affordable. Most fall between $200 and $500, which he said is comparable to the mass-produced work in home décor stores.

He can take custom orders and base size and stain color on the needs of the customer and décor of the designated space.

Diamond said his art's relative uniqueness has helped him get pieces into local galleries and coffee shops.

Gallery 101 Main owner Doug Tubach said Diamond embodies the concept of everyone needing a creative outlet.

"There's probably a little artist in everybody," he said. "I was just captured by the beauty of his work and the duality of being a teacher and artist at the same time."

Several pieces of Diamond's work can be found at Gallery 101 through the end of the year and at LaSalle Market through the end of March 2011. Like all the art at LaSalle, 20 percent of any sale will go to the substance abuse prevention programs at Canton schools.

Diamond's art can also be viewed http://picasaweb.google.com/craigtdiamond/GeometricWallHangings#

He can be reached at 860-309-2315 or craigtdiamond@gmail.com