“Signs for the Northwoods” captures the essence of the latest “Beyond Books: Community ArtShare” exhibit at T.B. Scott Free Library.
Featured woodburning artist Joe Hoffman has been perfecting his craft for over 20 years. Joe has created many custom woodburning pieces for cabins, camper signs and other Northwoods destinations.
Joe started by making signs for himself and his friends, and then started a business to meet the growing demand for his work, which now can be found throughout the United States. Awareness of Hoffman’s creations is spread solely by word of mouth and being featured by local businesses. Over the past years, Joe’s works have included custom routing and handpainting as the work demands.
Hoffman’s productions include paddles (usually miniature canoe paddles), plaques and smaller keepsakes. Joe also sometimes incorporates custom routing and handpainting into his works to meet client requests. Joe feels that woodburning allows him to express his artistic side. He notes that while he has no favorite pieces, he can create an image of almost any animal or scene – just not people.
Joe Hoffman’s woodburnings will be on display on the library’s second floor through February. T.B. Scott Free Library’s “Beyond Books: Community ArtShare” features new exhibits on an ongoing basis. The program was made possible by a $10,000 grant from the Mead Witter Foundation, Inc. of Wisconsin Rapids.