ARTIST STATEMENT
As a young boy my grandfather taught me the many uses of wood. He taught me that wood could be used to construct a porch to shade you in the summer heat or a wagon wheel for his horse drawn wagon or something as beautiful as a simple box. At that young age I was amazed how he used various hand tools to cut and shape wood into something useful. My grandfather instilled into me the love of wood and wood working tools. The tools I have in my shop range from the yesterday years hand saws, planes, files and chisels to the modern tools of today.
After retiring from McDonnell Douglas Corporation I started dreaming of how I could start using the tools and the knowledge I gained from my childhood. I settled on making artistic boxes using modern and old hand tools. Today I fashion one of a kind artistic boxes. My work is in several galleries and homes here in the USA and abroad. My work has been included in two books and two how to videos.
I am now living the dream that I have carried around with me since those days of my younger years, when I was working with my grandfather.
My name is Harold D. Engelke and I welcome you to my world!
