Monday, September 25, 2017

Raymond Bock Boxes at Smith Galleries

What do you do when you think technology threatens to make your profession extinct? At best it presents a career changing opportunity. For those who have design skills and some old fashioned spunk, it can be just what is needed to turn a career crisis into both a totally new career and a new lifestyle.

Ray Bock studied design and photography at the Illinois Institute of
Technology where received a BA in Design in 1981. For the next ten years he worked in commercial photography, first as a photographer’s assistant and then as the manager of the dye transfer printing department in a commercial photo lab. It was the emerging popularity of digital photography that caused him to consider turning his serious furniture making hobby into a new career. Not only did he decide to change careers; he and his wife left their Chicago jobs, purchased a farm and moved to Viroqua, Wisconsin, where they have been for the last 25 years.

In the early years Ray focused on designing and making custom and limited production furniture. While rewarding, the time spent on any one piece left little time for experimenting with new designs and construction techniques. Since 2008 Ray has been making small, architecturally inspired boxes in exotic and figured solid woods and veneers in addition to elegant elliptical hardwood and veneer bowls. His small boxes are made of fine woods and have
both elegant shapes and interesting added embellishment. His combination of woods and metal accents are both striking and functional.

Ray has exhibited in many national craft shows and recently was included in the prestigious Smithsonian show. Country life agrees with this city boy, and his second career has brought out his talent for designing in wood.

See more of Ray's boxes available at Smith Galleries.

Smith Galleries is located in the Village at Wexford, Suite J11 (UPSTAIRS), on Hilton Head Island. Gallery hours are 10 - 6 Monday through Saturday. 843-842-2280

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