Meet David Kenichi Kodama: Woodworker, Furniture Maker and Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Kenichi Kodama and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
As an avid mountain biker, surfer and snowboarder, taking risks has always been a big part of my life. It has definitely resulted in numerous crashes and injuries but also progression and development. The risks taken in my career have undoubtedly been more calculated than the decisions made on the mountain or in the ocean but there’s still been a fair share of challenges. Passion for what I do has been the key to taking the steps towards seizing opportunity and accepting risk. I feel incredibly blessed that many of the risks I have taken have led to incredible endeavors, successes and ultimately, my evolution as a maker. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a designer/maker of bespoke furniture and custom cabinetry specializing in wood and steel fabrication. I am owner and operator of Kenichi Woodworking, a woodworking business based in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado. I work in wood for it’s natural beauty, strength and versatility as a medium. I love looking at raw wood and envisioning how it will evolve into my creation, milling it to reveal the beauty of the grain and knowing that it is unique, much like a fingerprint and no other piece will ever be the same. The elegant simplicity of wood lends itself to the seamless fusion with other mediums and I often incorporate steel and leather into my work. Minimal and modern aesthetics are characteristics of my style. Along with the production of functional pieces, I also make art using wood as my medium and it’s led to some amazing collaborations. I’ve been blessed to work alongside some very talented artists. I regularly work with ceramicist and artist, Liz Heller mixing porcelain and wood to create pieces utilizing simple, geometric patterns. Our Geo Metrics Series is comprised of modular and interlocking wall pieces of varying sizes and patterns composed of 3 dimensional hexagonal pyramids. I’ve to have the opportunity to collaborate with 3d artist Steven Wintercroft to create his low poly masks using bamboo veneer. His masks are well known all over the world and his templates are downloadable online and are a fun DIY paper project. We used his templates, took it one step further and developed wooden masks. My journey to get to where I am today professionally has been a long road of development and evolution. As a maker, I am constantly learning in order to further my craft. That has taken years upon years and I am still far from where I want to eventually be. I will always yearn to learn. To progress and master my art. I believe it will be a lifelong endeavor. As I grow as a maker and artist, so does my business and my brand and that has been extremely rewarding.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I guess that would totally depend on the season. If it was summer, we would go surf at the different wave parks in Colorado, mountain biking along the way. Starting at my home wave in Glenwood Springs, we would check out Buena Vista and Salida’s waves stopping to mountain bike along the way in Snowmass, Vitamin B (BV) and Canyon Creek (Salida). I imagine we would continue to Crested Butte for a few days to mountain bike (and get pizza at Secret Stash!) before heading to Grand Junction to shuttle the Ribbon! If it was winter, we would head down to Silverton after spending a day or two at my home mountain – Highlands. In either scenario, after picking up my friend from DIA, we would head to South Federal for pho at Pho 95 before heading into the mountains!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am very lucky to be surrounded by so many creative people. Friends and mentors that are makers, artists and musicians that all play a big role in my success and progression as a woodworker and artist. Liz Heller is a ceramicist and artist that I have been collaborating with for a few years now. Our partnership has always flowed with ease and everything we’ve created has come from an organic synergy that makes the process so fun! She has been key in my exploration of my medium as art over function. I have been so blessed to have had the opportunity to collaborate and work with some amazing and talented local artists like Brian Colley, Chris Erickson and Reina Katzenburger as well as international creatives like Steven Wintercroft. I find such satisfaction and joy through creating with others. My shopmate and friend Brad Reed Nelson has played a big part in my development as a woodworker and business. He has been through it all with me, pretty much from day 1. Finally, Amy Kimberly is the Executive Director of our local arts council, Carbondale Arts. She holds it down. She plays such a huge role in fostering this amazing creative community we have here.

Website: https://www.kenichiwoodworking.com
Instagram: @kenichiwoodworking
Facebook: @kenichiwoodworking

Image Credits
Shawn O’Connor Photography – Portrait Brent Moss Photography – Pics of pieces except for masks + shoes