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Utilitarian art

Kristin Berquist

(Updated: Thursday, July 09, 2009, 6:20 PM)

Woodworker and sculptor Sal Maccarone never creates the same thing twice

At the young age of 12, Sal Maccarone landed his first commissioned woodworking job, a lamp he made for family friends.

Now Maccarone, 59, runs his own woodwork and sculpture business, Sal Maccarone, Woodwork Designer/Craftsman, from his shop in Mariposa where he creates pieces for individual and commercial clients, as well as artistic ventures on the side.

Having received his degree in both art and sculpture from San Jose State, Maccarone said he became a journeyman cabinetmaker while in college as a way to support himself and his young bride, Sharon. He and his wife, both born and raised on the East Coast, moved from the Bay Area to Mariposa 25 years ago.

Using a combination of his artistic and technical skills, Maccarone described his work as "utilitarian art." Maccarone said he tries to never do the same thing twice. Over the years, he has made cabinets, furniture, doors, tables and wood sculptures for clients in almost every state. He and his wife also spent four years in Washington State working on a historical home-restoration project.

"The neat thing about this business is that it's so versatile," Maccarone said.

Maccarone's father was a hobbyist woodworker and the initial fascination with woodworking began by experimenting with his father's tools, particularly the lathe.

Knowing that he wanted to work with his hands, Maccarone said he had no idea where woodworking would lead him.

Now, after almost 40 years in the woodworking business, Maccarone has put together a book called "The Woodwork and Sculpture of Sal Maccarone: A Retrospective - 2009." The book was compiled by Maccarone with photographs by friend Ron Iudice of various projects from over the years.

"My favorite piece always ends up being the last one I did, because it's steps ahead of the first one," Maccarone said.

His most memorable commissioned work was the Tenaya Lodge bar in Yosemite. When the lodge was being built in 1990, Maccarone put in a bid to do the woodwork on the bar. His idea to incorporate the American Indian heads in the sculpted columns was a big hit, prompting a personal call from the vice president of Marriott, the owner of the hotel at the time.

Much of his business is generated by word of mouth and referrals from past clients. His work on the bar at Tenaya Lodge gave him the opportunity to work on additional projects for the lodge as well as other commercial projects in the area, such as the country club in Ahwahnee.

Maccarone uses his spare time to create what he calls "fantasy sculptures." The unique pieces are mixed media designs. A handcrafted wooden cabinet houses a collection of figurines, wood pieces, fabric, fans and lights to create a kinetic sculpture of movement and light. Maccarone said each one captures a scene inspired by his own poetry.

"I see them (sculptures) as locking something in time," said Maccarone of the surreal artwork.

His favorite fantasy sculpture, "L.A.," shows bumper-to-bumper toy cars winding around a collection of trinkets and treasures to depict the busy, crowed freeways of Southern California.

The piece, made of Hawaiian Koa wood, can be viewed through the glass cabinet from the top as well as the sides.

Because the sculptures are created as side projects, each piece takes a very long time to finish. Having completed about 12 fantasy sculptures,

Maccarone said he would like to eventually transition from his commissioned woodworking projects like cabinetry to his traditional and fantasy sculptures.

His current project is a traditional "sculpture in the round," where the image is carved on all sides in a three-dimensional way.

The sculpture is of the late Mariposa musician and performer "Cousin" Jack Franklin, commissioned by the Cousin Jack Music Foundation, Maccarone said. The sculpture is made out of alder, a western hard wood.

Maccarone and his wife have two sons, Sam, 34, and Andy, 30.

Andy works in his dad's shop as a right-hand man but his passion is in martial arts and cage fighting.

Sam is an actor in Los Angeles. Pictures of the boys line the walls of Maccarone's tidy shop.

"I'm proud of both of them," he said. Also displayed on the shop walls are photos of past projects and the clients for whom they were made.

"It's my art. I've been doing it so long that I do take it for granted," Maccarone said. "I'm fortunate to be able to do what I like to do."