For ages, people have been thrifty about reclaiming natural materials to make useful household items. The local environment dictated what kind of resources might be available. Tools and other objects were made out of stones, trees or shells. Once these things were skillfully constructed, creative individuals became inspired to add decorative touches. Preserving cultural history through pictures or signs was common, but often the focus was on keeping simple beauty. Artisans in Chicago, Illinois have claimed this global heritage and applied it to local woods salvaged from generations old buildings to make beautiful home decor and striking modern art.

There is much craftsmanship to be seen when discovering the local studios. Seeing and touching the woods used helps visitors to appreciate that modern art through reclaimed wood is wondrous. This material can actually become artistic when used with new eyes and skilled hands. Combining any number of varieties of natural, painted or stained pieces, stunning installations are possible. Once appreciated for the beautiful inner grain or sturdiness in construction, old woods are being used in many art studios.

Spending some time in local galleries can become the starting point for a love affair with woods. There are local artisans displaying in Chicago who understand the subtle differences in the materials they use, creating lovely furniture and fine pieces of contemporary art. For the buyer, works for sale vary as much as artistic temperament, with many choices available.

It is not unusual to see texture layered upon texture to achieve a large piece. Combinations of paint or stain are used to delineate pattern and line. These are eye catching, yet encourage touch as well.

Some craftsmen focus on developing mosaics using tiny chips and slivers. This time consuming pursuit results in appealing works that can be very large once completed. Rather than creating realistic art, the overall themes are texture, pattern and design. Skilled hands and eyes mass all the disparate pieces into collective units that are quite beautiful. Not traditional in the sense of ancient mosaics, but similar in that they are intriguing to explore close up and from far away.

It is tempting to assume that all wooden creations will be geometric and angular. But the complexity of these pieces is such that when many pieces are positioned properly they can develop into flowing and even circular designs. What evolves depends completely on the whim of the person working with the tiny parts.

Harvesting materials that are basically cast off from other sites has become lucrative for those who are designing new things in Illinois. The piles of dust, slivers and splinters may have come from a Wisconsin farm or an Illinois property. What could have been a floor or a wall becomes a bed or lamp. Lumber that might have been discarded is being transformed into artistic statements.

The precise machinery used in construction tends to create many geometric shapes. Assembling these to make new items can be challenging. What has never been seen before often results from putting myriads of pieces together differently.

Woods that lived a previous life as a functional item, yet reclaimed to make something new, are satisfying materials for those passionate about recycling. This is art that is mindful of the earth and how to protect the limited resources it has. The rejected and old become valuable modern art.