CLT NC woodworker Emily Berger has spent the majority of her professional life in the creative sector, doing everything from graphic design to managing a music booking office to custom art framing. It’s no surprise, then, to learn that she was a very creative child. She drew and painted and explored all manner of outlets under the supervision and encouragement of her mother. “I always found myself coming back to working with my hands,” says Berger.
She started woodcarving by accident. Ten years ago, she completed a yoga teacher training course and felt inspired to make a gift for her instructor. Modern yoga blocks, which are used as a prop to promote stability and comfort, are typically made of a dense foam. However, traditionally they’re made from wood. Berger thought this would make an excellent gift, particularly with a chakra symbol carved into the top. So, she found someone who could teach her the basics of woodcarving, and then got to work creating.
“Whenever I have a new idea, I research the best method to bring it to fruition. Then I either teach myself or seek out an experienced mentor,” says Berger. “I’m a firm believer that if you can read, you can learn most anything.”
After the yoga blocks, Berger started to make two-dimensional wall hangings that required intricate surface line carving and painting. She then began to explore the creation of functional objects like spoons, cutting boards, and bowls. Her repertoire now also includes small wood sculptures; for example, using wood edge banding to weave baskets.
These days, one of her favorite woodworking applications is hand carving wooden spoons. “People sometimes request a handle shaped like a crab claw or a mustache. Things like that are always fun,” says Berger. Additionally, she has been spending a lot of time exploring the world of printmaking. “I enjoy doing small linocut print runs but really love larger woodblock prints,” says CLT NC woodworker Berger. “It gives me the opportunity to combine the two things I love in a way that provides immersive time to think.”
Trust the Process
As Berger has refined her skills and grown her craft, she has pursued opportunities to collaborate with, plug into, and draw from the local arts community. For example, in 2018, Berger won the Community Supported Artist Grant from the Arts and Science Council. In response to the grant, she made 50 wooden spoons—one for each of the shareholders who contributed to the grant. A photo of the completed spoons led to participation in the Art Pop Street Gallery in 2019, followed by an opportunity to lead a team of four other woodworkers in the creation of 300 cutting boards for a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library fundraiser in 2020.
Then, in 2022 Berger found herself in the very lucky possession of one of the studio spaces at the McColl Center. This helped lead to the opportunity to feature her work in an exhibit at the McColl Center in 2023. “It’s a good reminder to trust the process and where the universe is leading you,” reflects Berger.
To stay up to date on Berger and her art, find her on Instagram @roguestudioclt. For questions and commissions, reach out by email to roguewoodwork@gmail.com.
