Please introduce yourself and briefly describe your art.
Hello! My name is Jane Markham and I’m a 76-year young woodworker. I create keepsake and treasure boxes out of Claro (Black) & English Walnut, as well as Maple Burls that we salvage from decay or destruction. We are preserving our beautiful Northern California hardwoods.
What led you to be an artist and to share your art in Auburn Old Town Gallery?
I worked with my late husband, a carpenter/contractor, for 20 years when he retired and returned to his love of art and wood! Over time we created a fabulous wood shop and I wanted to learn everything I could. Since his passing 16 years ago, my family and I have carried on his legacy of exquisite woodworking craft, expanding our skills. We did several years of many art shows around the western states, and I continued to travel for 13 years. I am honored to be an artist at the Old Town Gallery where my woodworks are displayed. My work has improved over the years, and I love being a part of a cooperative art community of local artists.
Where are you originally from?
I grew up in Southern California and lived in Palm Springs where my mom and dad owned & ran a small cafe as well as an early convenience store in the 50’s. My parents wanted a small town for us to grow up in, and we settled in Sunnymead, then 5,000 people; and now has grown to 350,000! We owned a hardware store, and we were all involved in our community. We brought our first high school to our valley, and I was in the first graduating class. It was lots of orange groves & potato fields.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
My paternal grandmother influenced me greatly as a young girl. After a career teaching in Utah, she was teaching English in Iran through a university in the 50’s. She and my step-grandfather travelled the world for years, entertaining us with their adventures. In the 60’s they joined the Peace Corps, but medical issues kept them from going to Liberia. They bought property in Encinitas CA, where we spent a lot of time at the beaches and enjoyed the flowers. I always wanted to be a teacher because of my “Granny’s” life-long passion for learning. A couple years after I received my Master’s degree, I taught a variety of classes at my Alma Mater for 4 years and “graduated” with my seniors. My next move was teaching at 2 colleges in Lake Tahoe. My move to Grass Valley brought me to Adult Education which I loved—”English as a Second Language” and a “Memoirs Writing for Seniors” class that I developed and taught for years.
I also began my 29-year involvement as “The Tree Lady”; a facilitator for Talk About Trees, a program designed to teach 3-6th graders about our forests & the importance of trees in our everyday lives. I was also learning more each day that I could refine in our wood shop. Now I love to tell people about our local woods that will “Keep the Spirit of the Tree Alive.”
Tell us about a compliment that you’ve received that you’re most proud of.
A favorite compliment I received as I first showed my own creations came from a gentleman at a special art show. He said after a thorough examination of my work…” every one of these boxes is a perfect treasure”!
What’s one thing that has made you smile recently?
My 4-year-old grandson Nova & my daughter Lilia have lived with me for 2 1/2 years. It is my joy to be part of his growth and maturity. He entertains us constantly with his perspectives on life and actions that make us laugh!
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Read Jane’s previous interview here.
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