About the artist
Hi, I’m Aaron. I come from a long line of loggers on my dads side. My great grandfather brought a sawmill with him to Wisconsin when he Immigrated from Germany. Trees have cast a spell on many men of our family… My uncles, my great uncles, my grandpa and his dad. I remember my grandmother would yell at grandpa as his eyes wandered off the road, and stared starry-eyed at a tall stand of hardwood.
My dad taught me the “way of the saw”, as he called it when I was 16. I learned how to fell trees, drive the logging equipment and not get killed. I also learned how enchanting and mysterious a forest is, how to sustainably log and how to properly cuss. Not too long after I became an arborist. Climbing, cutting, pruning and curing trees became my way of life for nearly 30 years. I learned so much about so many species. Trees became a sort of family to me. Different species began to hold different meanings. The more I learned and worked with them, the more my reverence grew for these breathing, growing miracles of architecture. This mysterious effect is almost inevitable. I’ve worked with many hardened, tough old loggers and none escaped the green influence that seeps into the veins.
I’ve killed many beautiful giants in my day, but as time passed and my knowledge grew, I began curing and extending the life of many wonderful specimens. I found that as I worked with trees to extend their life, a well of meaning opened up… a new path. Years later another path opened. A path of creative expression only possible in partnership with, yet again…trees. It was quite a turn for me and it still involves many adventures. It was a natural turn. It seemed almost effortless. As I look back there were so many sacrifices, but like I said…effortless. Not because it didn’t hurt, or wasn’t scary. I was carried away by something greater than myself…a perfect example of inspiration. In my younger years I would’ve rolled my eyes at what I’m about to write, but trees do speak to us. I truly believe this. I don't claim to hear the trees more than you or anyone else, but perhaps whatever I’m hearing, I can pass to you through the craft and trees I love so much.
