I chose a career as a cabinetmaker because it offered expression for the passion that motivates my creativity. I often think of Charles. R. Mackintosh who said, "Art is the flower. Life is the green leaf. Let every artist strive to make his flower a beautiful thing… something that will convince the world that there may be, there are, things more precious – more beautiful - more lasting - than life itself."
Born in Maine I moved to Charlottesville, Virginia when I was sixteen. I received a B.S. degree from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 1972. Shortly thereafter, I established the cabinetmaking shop that would grow to become Jaeger & Ernst, cabinetmakers.
I enjoy participating in the Virginia and national craft communities. I believe an awareness of the work of other artisans enhances my design sensibilities, reinforces the value inherent in the work of the hand, and provides exceptional resources for our clients.
The history of craft, particularly its rebirth following the industrial revolution, has long held my interest. The Arts and Crafts Movement is a tale of craft’s re-emergence and flowering. I am fascinated by how the tenets of the Arts and Crafts Movement influenced artisans and our larger culture. My convictions that design and craft are valuable contributors to our culture and economy stem from my exploration of this subject.
Rooms are affected by material, color, texture, spatial arrangement, and complements of like and dissimilar elements. The character we attribute to rooms, such as expansive, intimate, warm, comfortable, rich, formal or soft, for me, are the emotional considerations I seek to affect as a designer/cabinetmaker. I am tremendously gratified by a client’s elation over work we created for their home.
A flow of inspiring emotion is the spirit I strive to communicate within the art of the cabinetmaker. To create those objects and spaces which evoke this movement necessitates that design, craftsmanship and wood be combined and offered as an extraordinary service. Because we provide this extraordinary service, I continue to be joyful with my choice of a career as cabinetmaker.