Jim Beck

Jim Beck began his career as a woodworker, dropping out of college to apprentice for an elderly boatbuilder in rural Wisconsin. He lived with a group of fellow apprentices in an old farmhouse where they were reminded everyday by a plaque that read “Only God can make a tree.” Their job was to transform those trees into aesthetically pleasing and practical seaworthy boats.

After eighteen years hand crafting wooden boats the demands of a growing family necessitated a change of careers, but woodworking continued as a passion filled hobby. In 2007, Jim received a call to serve Redeemer Lutheran Church in Tillamook Oregon as her pastor. In 2021, he retired from the church but remained in the area and purchased a lathe.

As an experienced wood turner, Jim has produced a wide range of fine crafted woodworks from bowls, platters, pens, and his signature piece—heptagonal (seven-sided) boxes. As an artist, he endeavors to reveal the beauty that has already grown in the tree. Most of his materials are sourced from Craigslist contacts for “free firewood” or old barns with abandoned wood.

Working with reclaimed wood, each of Jim’s pieces arise out of the stock itself. Flaws in the material often dictate the eventual form and/or invite contrasting fillers. The final artwork displays the beauty of creation grown into the wood which Jim has expertly coaxed out using his lathe for you to enjoy.