An active woodworker, artisan, and teacher for most of his adult life, Gerry Clifford has blended together a number of life experiences that both inform and drive his artwork. As a young man living the life of a Benedictine monk, Gerry discovered woodworking while working as a carpenter on a monastic dairy barn. This serendipitous twist in fate initiated a number of life-altering changes. He began to dig deeper into the world of fine woodworking while at the same time taking a broader examination of design, esthetics, and natural forms.
Gerry later apprenticed under the guidance of Austin Carpenter at The Concord Wood Joinery (CWJ). There he made further discoveries in woodworking while deepening his passion and working knowledge for this medium. It was while working at CWJ that Gerry found himself immersed into a culture and environment which closely examined art, architecture, painting, and design.
Gerry taught woodworking at Dedham Country Day School for the thirty years. While working with young students, Gerry was able to blend his love and passion for “hand-craft” with a slow, thoughtful, and reflective approach that emphasizes process. Gerry works out of his second-floor studio located in a barn behind his home in Needham, where he lives with his wife, Patrice, and his two daughters.
Bespoke Wood Studio 