Darren Myers From These Woods

Ep. 55 – Maker Month with woodworker Darren Myers of From These Woods

From bottle openers to cutting boards to custom-made furniture, he’s making a living with his hands

by Stephanie Brea | December 1, 2020


iTunes | Spotify | Direct Download Episode 55

It’s week two of Maker Month, and this week’s episode features local woodworker Darren Myers. A degree in art, followed by a home purchase that required a lot of work, led Myers to travel to Vermont to learn more about woodworking. He believes that the physical aspect of working with his hands is what makes him so passionate about the craft, and the fact that he is “able to harness an old-school skill set in the modern day, where it’s not as not as prevalent as it used to be.” Learn about what influences him, his process, and his dream projects.

When asked if Pittsburgh helps or hinders his work as an artist, Myers explains:

“I’ve struggled with location in my life, where I’m supposed to be or what I’m drawn to. I’m not very far away from the woods. Even in my neighborhood, I can go and grab a trunk of a tree that’s across the street. You can’t really do that in a lot of other cities. So the geological aspect of it is crucial. I think Pittsburgh is part of the reason why I’m able to do what I do.”

Similar to last week’s guest, graphic designer Paul Haggerty, Myers also made some “pandemic projects,” including some dice cups that were a result of playing a baseball simulation game with his friends over Zoom earlier this year.

Follow Darren Myers/From These Woods

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by darren myers (@fromthesewoods)

Want more local makers?

Week one of maker month on The Slaw featured graphic designer Paul Haggerty.

Check out our Yinzer Shopping Network video for more great gifts from local artists.

The audio episode was hosted by Aadam Soorma, recorded remotely, engineered and edited by Epicast Studios.

Subscribe to The Slaw: Staying on Top of Pittsburgh podcast

The Slaw Podcast is available on:

Stream original series on the Very Local app

What is Very Local?

Very Local is your best source for shows about local communities, bringing you 24/7 access to news from your trusted local news source, weather updates, and more. The Very Local app also brings you fresh, untold stories from your city and communities like yours, with exclusive original shows and local stories specific to where you live. Get the channel to stream Very Local free on Roku or Amazon Fire TV.

Follow Very Local on Facebook and @VeryLocal on Instagram for more

Stephanie Brea

Stephanie Brea

Stephanie has been organizing events since 1998, starting with a series of motorcycle rides through the Arizona desert to support her father’s business. She’s probably crossed your name off a presale ticket list or served you a beer somewhere around town.

An undergrad degree in poetry means she has lots of unpractical knowledge about iambic pentameter, while a brief stint as a copy editor for Alternative Press taught her that twenty one pilots is stylized in all lowercase letters.

Wanna throw a party in a vacant parking lot? She’s interested.

At the onset of COVID-19, Stephanie took on the role of podcast producer for The Slaw. She’s pretty familiar with a microphone, thanks to that aforementioned poetry degree, and she’s got the wherewithal to ask Epicast Studios for help. She listens to too many true crime podcasts, and currently records from her bedroom.

If you know of someone who would be the perfect podcast guest, send her an email.

Download the Very Local app to stream all of the Very Local original series for FREE!

Download the Very Local app to stream all of the Very Local original series for FREE!