In the '70s,
artisans, like Stowe,
flocked to the Ozarks
Doug's shop
is dubbed
"The Wilderness"
by wife Jean
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Making His Mark
In 1890, you'd probably have come to Eureka Springs, Arkansas "for
the waters." The mineral-rich springs in this corner of the Ozarks
spawned a prosperous cluster of baths, hotels, and shops. When
newcomers rediscovered the village during the '70s, they began
renovating the charming ruins.
Doug Stowe at home in
his office where the Ozark
forest provides inspiration |
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Since settling here in 1975, Doug Stowe has made a tangible
imprint on what is now a lively community of artisans. As we hiked
up Spring Street, which snakes its way along a ridge through the
old part of town, Doug pointed out a door he had made for this
shop, a set of cabinets he'd built for that one. Of the 50 or so
elegantly restored shops we passed, a pretty fair number had
benefitted from Doug's attentions. Doug's guided tour might suggest
a certain immodesty, but that's not what he's about. Doug would
rather tell you about his woodworking mistakes and how he's learned
from them than about his unqualified successes.
At Home In The
Forest
Doug shares a hideaway to the north of town with his wife Jean,
who runs the library in Eureka Springs, and their six-year-old,
Lucy. The first thing you notice, aside from the idyllic seclusion,
is a handmade oak front door with two stained glass panels. Inside,
you find exposed beams and lots of furniture made on the premises
from local hardwoods.
Detail of Doug's hall
table--cherry, ebonized
cherry, bird's-eye maple
The Ozark forest further imposes its presence by way of a southern
wall that is mostly glass. Doug's shop and office, connected to the
house by a breezeway, also admit lots of light and landscape.
"Jean, the guardian of order, introduces my disorderly shop to
visitors as The Wilderness," says Doug. "Since what I do is
intimately connected to wilderness, I take this as a
compliment."
Here &
Abroad
Although his commission work has established him locally, Doug's
line of inlaid boxes has gained him national recognition and today
generates most of his income. In addition to the 45 U.S. galleries
that carry these pieces, Arkansas business reps have taken Doug's
boxes to Germany, Russia, and Saudi Arabia as executive gifts.
During a 1989 trade mission, then-governor Bill Clinton presented
the boxes to Pacific Rim leaders.
Inlaid Box--walnut,
cherry, hackberry |
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Eastern thought has had a palpable influence on his relationship
to his work. "In Chinese," Doug explains, "the concepts of crisis
and opportunity are virtually indistinguishable. This makes sense
to me. It's usually been the errors I've made that have resulted in
great moments of insight--what I call eureka experiences. I try to
stay focused on the process of learning, rather than staking
everything on the finished product."
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