This article was taken from the April 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Some artists use a paintbrush. James McNabb, however, favours a bandsaw. The Philadelphia-based sculptor creates intricate cityscapes from reclaimed wood using thousands of precise incisions. "I like how direct the saw is - you stick a piece of just about anything into it and the machine cuts it," says McNabb. "The process uses no patterns or designs, to allow me the freedom to explore new and exciting forms."
His METROS series was inspired by global metropolises and was carved over the course of several months. ("I'm working hard to get my 10,000 hours in," he says.) McNabb sketches the pieces in advance but cuts free-form; as the process takes so long, he raised $7,637 for the project on Kickstarter in advance.
McNabb mastered the bandsaw while working as a furniture maker before moving into art. "I was frustrated with designing furniture and the slow pace it was moving at," he says. "So I gave myself an opportunity to experiment." For his Laser series, he created works using laser engraving, with spectacular results. "The textures and patterns were the result of calculated experimentation," he says. He's also played with 3D printing, although wood remains his favoured medium.
McNabb is now working on saw-cut pieces "with greater detail and refinement". So, any tips for those of us tempted to try it? "Patience."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
