Joe Clay has been working in wood for the past 35 years, creating boats, custom yacht interiors, standalone furniture, turnings, and completing period restoration work. Currently an instructor at Shop Class in New Bern, Clay formerly taught at Carteret Community College for 8 years and has trained 6 apprentices as shipwrights. In addition to his experience as a craftsman, Clay formerly operated a tree sawmill business and worked in a specialty lumberyard. His work has been featured in the Florida State Fair, North Carolina State Fair, and Fine Woodworking’s annual exhibition.
Where are you from and how’d you end up in Eastern North Carolina?
I grew up in Wilson and went to East Carolina University where I graduated with my degree in Political Science. Then I went to Florida and worked in construction management until I got tired of it. Studied with an old shipwright, bought a sail boat and went to Oriental. Then I sold the boat and built a shop.
How did you get your start and learn woodworking?
I was in construction management, building tall buildings. I got tired of it. Then I took an $800 a week pay cut and went and worked for an old shipwright. Best thing I ever did. Look at me now! Smiling, happy 75 year old with a vaccination in his arm.
What is your favorite part about working in wood?
I enjoy an intellectual challenge, the geometry and physics of it all. And I love my clients. In forty plus years I’ve only had two bad clients.
In addition your custom furniture pieces I know you are a shipwright. What relationship do you see between your work and working on boats?
Working on boats I’ve learned how to build strange shaped objects. And in turn I’ve been able to learn to build some strange shaped furniture from that.
You teach a Shop Class and have had a number of apprentices over the years, do you see a relationship or feedback on your own pieces from the teaching process?
When I first started, I had to take my skill back down to their level and reteach myself the basics. I had to think about what I was doing so I could teach others. It’s been quite interesting.
Do you have advice for beginning woodworkers or people looking to get into woodworking?
Keep your fingers out of the table saw. But to be serious I would strongly recommend that they find someone who has some experience and learn from them, especially safety.
Is there any artist in your field or any other whose work you admire or inspires you?
I’m very impressed by the people who brought studio furniture back. Tage Frid, Nakashima, and Sam Maloof, he was a chair maker. I always thought that to be a good woodworker, you would have to be able to build a good chair and I’ve always been afraid to, so then I decided to get over my fear.
Is there any award, exhibition, or piece you’re particularly proud of, and why?
Well I did win the Fine Furniture Award at the Florida State Fair. That was years ago. I also did a ground up restoration of a 40’ sail boat.
Is one sentence, what is art to you?
There’s this great controversy of craft verses art. How do you tell a difference? To me, craft is something you can use. Art is something you stick somewhere and you admire.
I know you have work at Bank of the Arts, where else can people find your work?
People can commission custom pieces by calling me at 252.288.1185.
By Jonathan Burger, Craven Arts Council & Gallery, Inc.