Steve Butler

Woodworking Studio Department Head

Email: woodworking@petersvalley.or

Bio:

As a woodworker, Butler has been creating artwork for over ten years. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Butler began his woodworking career serving an apprenticeship in Peterborough, Ontario. After his apprenticeship he moved back to the Toronto area where he worked in various woodworking studios making furniture for others. As his passion for art and craft grew, he pursued formal training at Sheridan College of Art and Design, majoring in furniture design. Graduating with honors, Butler then went to Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario where he studied technological education. After graduating from Queens he moved to Marshfield, Massachusetts where he taught woodworking at Marshfield High. Butler spent a year in Marshfield and then moved to Worcester where he taught liberal arts at Applewild School.

Butler has maintained his own studio practice called Sherwood Design, while teaching, where he creates one-off speculative pieces as well as client-based commissions. Butler is the former Department Head of the wood studio at the Worcester Center for Crafts in Worcester, Massachusetts. Butler approaches art and craft like composing music. Both must speak of rhythm and proportion. Through the interconnection of parts he strives to create forms that are engaging visually from all sides, developing an interaction between viewer and object. Working primarily in wood, Butler likes to mix media. Through the balanced use of materials he creates a line that is both pleasing and easy for the eye to follow. Butler enjoys how the warmth of wood and the contrast of metal come together to create a pleasing unified whole.

Some of Steve's Work: (click images for larger views)