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Kelly Bissell

Kelly, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, believes everything happens for a reason. He had
been a heavy equipment operator and jack-of-all-trades until a debilitating back injury
forced him to reinvent himself. Fortunately, he was afforded the resources and time
necessary to find a new outlet for his innate creativity. The physical movement required to
work with a wood lathe strengthens his back. The creative process blocks the pain. The
result is extremely therapeutic. In addition to the physical benefits, Kelly found a way to
express his inner artist.

Although Kelly uses the lathe extensively, he also brings a wide array of skills to his work.
Most of these skills come from years of arts and crafts. When he was young, his parents
tried to busy his wild-child ways with many different mediums. He turned experiences with
glass etching, leather craft and painting into wood burning, carving and airbrushing skills.
Because he taught himself, he had the ability to broaden his creative scope with no
pressure. With no fear of mistake, he was able to push pieces to the brink and beyond as
he learned the limitations of different types of wood. "I love to work with cracks and voids
and use natural imperfections to create pleasing forms. This makes each piece a
challenge."

Kelly has a deep appreciation for art and nature. He believes bringing things from nature
into the decor adds a sense of warmth to a home. He prefers to work with salvaged or
discarded wood, or trees that have special meaning to the owner. "A fallen tree can be
reborn as art to be appreciated for years to come", Kelly says. "I hope that you enjoy my
art as much as I enjoy making it. I put all my energy into each and every piece. I hope
that they will be enjoyed by future generations."