About me.

My name is Michael Quataert, I have always been interested in woodworking, and increasingly I've been even more drawn to woodturning. I suppose it's a reaction to the uniformity and stylistic sterility of modern goods and homes where everything is machine-made, artificial and standardized. Wood, like many crafts such as pottery, allows us to work with our hands and fashion something unique with the raw materials that nature has given us.

For example, when I find a piece of timber that has a crack or void, I don't discard it, nor do I attempt to disguise it. Instead, I use the opportunity to celebrate its uniqueness and to highlight the character of the timber itself.  Also, I try not to hide the timber under a plastic film but prefer an oil finish that allows the fingers to sense the warmth, the weight and the texture of the wood underneath. It's a way of connecting with nature and part of the total experience of owning a wood bowl.

All of the bowls listed are completely home-made by me.  Nobody else participated in the crafting of the bowls.

That being said, I want to credit my wife, Daria, who is a potter.  Observing her art, her passion for her work, her design and color sensibilities, has informed my work.  Wood and clay are very different media, but her general approach and the expressiveness of her craft inspire me.

Similarly, my sister Pam is an extraordinary artist, and her creativity continues to delight.  You can view some of her work at https://www.PDQuat.com/ 

All net proceeds from the sale of my work are donated to two non-profit schools that serve children that come from families that, while economically challenged, truly care about education.  

One of the schools, El Primer Paso (“The First Step”), is a pre-school that for more than 50 years, in addition to all the other pre-school requirements, has been preparing children to be fluent in English by the time they reach kindergarten.  Language skills are essential to academic success, especially at that young age, and El Primer Paso has the track record to warrant your support.  El Primer Paso is located in Dover, NJ.  Learn more at https://www.ElPrimerPaso.org/ 

The second school, Nativity Preparatory Academy, provides quality middle-school education specifically designed for inner-city students that have not been well served by the schools they attended.  The school provides an opportunity to children to receive a high-quality education that would make any parent envious. Nativity Prep is located in Rochester, NY.  Learn more at http://NativityRochester.org/