2875 Dead Indian Memorial Road

Ashland OR 97520

541 482-3400

wolfwillie@aol.com

While wishing he had been raised in a log cabin, Willie Wolf was actually born in Los Angeles, California in 1949.  However, he did start leaving trails of sawdust in the family garage by the age of 10, and quickly moved from building ping-pong tables and model boats to furniture and houses.

After college, he leveraged his formal degree in mass communications and photojournalism to start his own graphic design and advertising firm.  In the mid 70’s, he was contracted to teach photography on board ‘Semester at Sea,’ a shipboard education program that circumnavigated the globe.  While visiting other countries on his voyage, he marveled as native craftsmen used their feet as clamps and scraps of metal as chisels to create beautiful pieces of furniture and sculpture.  No power tools for these craftsmen.

Willie draws upon the knowledge gained from working in corporate America for 25 years.  Although his career had been very satisfying and lucrative, the passion had long since past.  He felt the need to use his mind to conjure ideas and his hands to create them.  These days he spends his time in the woodworking studio he completed last year, working on his clocks and crafting custom woodworking projects.

Building on this first hand experience, Willie has sought out, networked and learned from other woodworkers who share his passion for hand craftsmanship.  He has participated in many workshops with top experts in the woodworking industry, including the instructors at the College of the Redwoods, who have been a great influence and inspiration to him.

A guiding premise of Willie’ work is to incorporate the visual aspects of great design into functional pieces.  And as you can see, the classic styling, fine joinery and craftsmanship of the turn of the century masters is embodied in his mantel clocks.

Knowing about something, and knowing how to bring it to life are completely different skill sets.  In essence, there is a considerable amount of problem solving involved in the creative manufacturing process.  And, Willie’s mantel clock is a prime example of this.

The seemingly simple mantel clock is actually a very complicated construction project. There are no 90-degree angles.  The assembly involves 27 different machine set-ups, 16 different jigs and 78 individual steps.  The clock has no mechanical fasteners and is joined with mortise and tenon joinery.  The solid copper clock faces are made exclusively for him.  Each face is hand-patinated by Willie to add more character.  The result is a production technique that allows him to individually craft, fit and finish each clock by hand, with meticulous attention to detail.

Willie and fellow artist Pat Holton live and work in the hills of Ashland, Oregon where he has built a 1,100 square foot shop.  While the current focus has been on various clock designs, plans are in the works for a number of new and custom projects.

They also cook a terrific chocolate soufflé, so if you are going to be in the neighborhood, e-mail ahead and drop on by. (Wolfwillie@aol.com).