About Bruce

I am often asked if I play the violin. The answer is yes. When I was in the fourth grade, I started taking violin lessons and continued through Jr. High School. I was taught classical music in Jr High The school played in the school orchestra. After the eighth grade, I had completed 5 years of training.

I took a job working construction that summer. Unfortunately, I was involved in an industrial accident. My left hand was crushed and severely injured. It was my “American Pie” moment, and never played the violin again. 

It was later in life that I carved my first violin. I became strongly motivated. I
felt the same enthusiasm and inspiration I had in my childhood.  I went to work learning how to carve my violin sculptures. Learning how to convey movement by exaggerating the shape of the violin and manipulating curves to give illusions of twists and turns. It has been said they look as if they are melting, which after all is movement.

In many ways, each of my sculptures is a musical arrangement. From carving the scrolled pegbox to the violin body, I follow a set of carving procedures, much like following sheet music. There is not much difference, except I must first write the music before I can follow the procedures. The truth is I am a wood carver, not a musician. But in my heart, I am a violinist, just playing the violin differently. You can’t hear my music, but you can see my music.

I hope people enjoy my unique musical arrangements as much as I do when I am craving them.