So sad to hear of this, he was a great guy.

 

https://blog.lostartpress.com/2023/02/07/john-wilson-1939-2023-the-shaker-box-king/#comment-86095

from the comments:

 

"A legend. I saw a video with him once and he said something along the lines of “they say you can’t take it with you but you know what you do take with you? Your knowledge, unless you share it.”. That’s stuck with me."

 

long ago i posted a detailed "how to make an end grain cutting board" thread on the old Wood website, as well as another website.  time passes, just a few weeks ago, someone i've never met posted a picture of some cutting boards he had made - the exact design that I had shown (the pattern, different woods).  so that was nice to see, that something I did long ago caught someone's eye to the point that they wanted to copy it, which is fine, and end up with a beautiful result.

 

never heard of Mr. Wilson or his boxes, but a good read.

23 minutes ago, DAB said:

from the comments:

 

"A legend. I saw a video with him once and he said something along the lines of “they say you can’t take it with you but you know what you do take with you? Your knowledge, unless you share it.”. That’s stuck with me."

 

long ago i posted a detailed "how to make an end grain cutting board" thread on the old Wood website, as well as another website.  time passes, just a few weeks ago, someone i've never met posted a picture of some cutting boards he had made - the exact design that I had shown (the pattern, different woods).  so that was nice to see, that something I did long ago caught someone's eye to the point that they wanted to copy it, which is fine, and end up with a beautiful result.

 

never heard of Mr. Wilson or his boxes, but a good read.

I think I may have a printout of that thread. I used it to make my cutting boards but the design came from the cutting board program on computer. This is a link to the Cutting Board Design site https://www.cuttingboarddesigner.com/designer/id/7bf4dff3-9b10-8c86-9e4c-bc2722f7487f.

 

Sorry to get so off topic I did not know John either

Edited February 7, 20233 yr by Gerald

John Wilson, I've had the pleasure of speaking with John Wilson, I ordered my shaker box supplies from him, what a nice man, and a very storied history in the arts and crafts world, he was a legend, he'll be missed for sure!

Sad to hear. Saw him on a couple PBS shows. I was impressed not only by his knowledge and skills but his demeanor, presentation style and especially his humility. His legacy will continue through the many he has trained, influenced, encouraged and equipped. He'll  be missed but never forgotten.

sure was an innovator and educator again will be missed by many, hopefully his protege gets'r done

I have his books, very beautiful books on the craft that he wrote and photographed and all in hardcover.

You know what? He was such a sharing and open man, those beautiful books that he wrote full of historical information, how to do this, that, and so much more, in the first pages of each book, he has a disclaimer.

Just an example of how gracious and giving he was. Immediately opening his works up to the Public Domain

 

 

I love how he signed my books before he shipped them out. He signed all three of my books, I purchased these book individually over a couple years and he signed them all.

 

 

I love my books, thank you John Wilson, you will be missed.

 

I don't remember John Wilson, but I remember the episodes where he did the boxes.  I'd bet he'd be pleased that his art survives him.  He helped a lot of people, and that's a pretty good legacy.  Lots of us help other people, but never realize how that also creates Legacy.