Turning history into art

Local artisans are helping to prolong the existence of a tulip poplar tree that once stood beside Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.

The 115-foot-tall tree was cut down last year after Thomas Jefferson Foundation officials determined the poplar’s root system was compromised and it could topple onto the house. Now, artisans are turning the wood into bowls, vases, rolling pins and other art pieces.

“It’s incredibly thrilling and satisfying to turn this historical wood from Monticello,” said Fred Williamson, an artisan. “I’ve always felt like the pieces I do, in a way, are preserving the wood forever.”

The tulip poplar was considered to be an original tree to Monticello, although the base of the tree was hollow so dating could not be done. Over the years, arborists worked to preserve the tree by cabling it to other large trees.

But once it was determined the tree had to come down, Monticello officials decided to preserve what they could of it. They kept part of the tree to be displayed at a later time and gave the rest of it out to be used to make various items.

“We’re grateful [the tree] lasted as long as it did,” said Peter Hatch, Monticello’s director of gardens and grounds. “We wanted to preserve as much of the wood as possible. I love Fred Williamson’s work, as he’s able to make the bowls almost paper thin and he’s able to keep some of the marbling of the tree.”

Williamson, who has worked on various art projects at Monticello since 1997, contacted Hatch two weeks after the tree was taken down.

By that time, Monticello officials had already contracted with a Madison-based company to use the tree’s wood to make pens and handles for magnifying glasses to sell in the gift shop.

But after the company collected the pieces of the tree they wanted, Williamson got the chance to get some of the wood. He then started creating bowls from the wood and selling it on his own without promoting it as Monticello wood.

Once he showed several pieces to Monticello officials, they asked to sell them in the site’s gift store. Local artists are hoping to expand the woodwork to include rolling pins and other items.

“I turn bowls and give them the first choice,” Williamson said. Williamson, who enjoys making larger bowls, asked his wood-turning friends to help him make the pieces of art.

Williamson, who is a full-time bowl turner, takes the logs and shape them into bowls. He has been able to get three bowls out of some pieces of the wood and save pieces for other turners to make smaller items.

“We’re trying to maximize the pieces as much as possible,” Williamson said.

Kirk McCauley, who started making bowls after long days at his auto mechanic business, said he has been excited to work with the tulip poplar wood. He has made small bowls from the wood to sell at Monticello and larger bowls to sell at the Barn Swallow in western Albemarle County and Zestivities in Crozet.

“I think it’s the highest compliment to put your name on the bottom of a historical tree like this,” McCauley said. “I don’t know where these bowls will go to, but it’s neat to think my bowl might be around the world. It’s a great way to get my name out there.”

Sharon McElroy, director of retail sales at Monticello, said the pieces have been selling really well. Prices on the bowls range from $40 to several hundred dollars, depending on the size and the detail of the work.

“People seem to have a real interest in these products,” she said.

McElroy hopes to put the bowls on the gift store’s Web site so people outside of Central Virginia can purchase them.

“We’ll be happy to work with anyone over the phone,” McElroy added.

Williamson has enough wood to make 200 to 250 bowls and hopes to keep the gift store stocked with products.

Working with the tulip poplar has made Williamson more interested in the life and times of Jefferson. “It’s very meaningful to have a connection to Monticello,” he said.

“The beauty of the bowls is there really is an element of art to them because each is different.”