Roddy Wildeman's reclaimed woodwork saves lives

Again about reclaimed wood. We throw away old wooden objects too easily, we burn wood from demolitions or house conversions too quickly. We have already talked about such art, but this time it saves more than wood - it saves lives. The subject of this article - no art studies, but with a background in real estate where he's seen many demolitions and transformations - now has work in the Rockefeller family's private office and art museums. He also owns art galleries and is a great philanthropist, using his art to do many charitable works.

Discovering a passion

Roddy Wildeman worked first in the U.S. Army, then as a carpenter and then as a real estate agent for 15 years. During all that time he helped people find new homes and witnessed some of those homes being demolished or converted. Each time the remnants of the houses moved him because he realized how full they were of the history of the place, of the families who had passed through. He started collecting them and trying to turn them into works of art. Although he had no specialized studies, he always had an artistic nature that helped him to find his way and the way to express himself.

His experience as a carpenter helped him in working with wood. When he realized that he needed to know more, he turned to the knowledge of well-known carpenters and joiners and tried to learn as much as he could from them. Eventually he formed a style that proved to be the winning one.

History encapsulating wood

Roddy never changes the color of the wood he uses, nor does he refinish the surface. He says this way he keeps all the history locked inside, all the feelings of those who lived there - love, hate, despair, hope.

The wood comes from floors, ceilings, walls and old furniture. The pieces of wood are cut in certain patterns and laid to form a certain pattern. Sometimes he uses a wood joining method used in 15th century Italy. The method is called 'intarsia' and although it is the basis of what we know today as intarsia, it is different in the final look.

When asked why he chooses to work with reclaimed wood Roddy says that it always makes him think of the stories of the people who used it before, to imagine what their life was like in those houses. Another reason, less artistic but very commendable, is that he feels a social responsibility to recycle and reuse. It is his way of keeping the environment clean and protecting resources.

Artist and philanthropist

Wildeman is now the owner of art galleries in New York, the director of a non-profit organization, exhibits in various exhibitions, gives motivational talks at TEDex, and is a regular fixture in the local and national press.

Roddy is also a great philanthropist. He donates his art to charity auctions, supports and endorses the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Sarcom Foundation of America, the Center for Children in Kenya and many others. She recently donated a large sum of money, received from the sale of a work by singer and songwriter Jason Mraz, to the Sarcom Foundation.