By P.M. Fadden
Staff Writer
“It’s basically following a dream,” said family man, skier, and Girdwood artist Cody Burns.
Burns is the creator of Alaska Wood Wizard, artisanal woodworks that crafts its pieces from natural wood formations. Shaped locally and sold digitally, the ‘AK Wiz’ reaches a worldwide audience.
“Growing up in June Lake, CA it was family who first exposed me woodwork,” Burns said. “My parents owned a gallery and they were a big inspiration to me. My Dad is a professional woodcarver as was my grandfather, and about seven years ago I decided to focus on artistic woodcrafts. I always dreamed of coming to Alaska. Wood carving was a way to make that happen.”
“I made and sold my first pieces of wood art to earn the gas money to get to Alaska,” Burns said. “Five years later I’m still here, still carving and raising a family of my own.”
Burns’ appreciation for wood art is matched by his enjoyment of the outdoors, making Girdwood an ideal location for work as well as play.
“To me, to be an artist is to love what you do,” Burns said. “You channel that energy into creating your best work.”
The AK Wiz is known particularly for wizard portraits worked into branch segments or portions of bark.
“For some reason, I feel I can reveal the face in the wood,” Burns said. “It happens naturally and without too much thinking about it.”
“I feel that what I do is unique, with a definite personal twist,” he said. “In wood, there’s utility work like furniture or home-building and artistic work like decorative pieces. By working with so many mediums myself, I have discovered that decorative pieces are my personal favorite, and that helps me to create things to warm a household or put a smile on someone’s face.”
The AK Wiz carves local woods like birch, alder, spruce burl or cottonwood to create lamps, bowls, walking sticks, mirror frames and pieces made to order. Burns also receives wood samples via post from his father and the two professionals consult as peers on projects and techniques.
“I love custom jobs,” Burns said. “Everyone sees something different in the wood, and that’s exciting for the artist.”
“I did try to carve a ski once; that didn’t really work out, but you name it, I’m in to it,” he said.
“As a place to be creative as well as raise a family, Girdwood is a great location,” Burns said. “It’s an artistic place with the highest volume of year-round activities.”
“I moved here to ski and make art. My shop unfolds from the back of my truck, and the valley’s environment is awesome for working outdoors,” he said. “I actually enjoy working in weather–the more gnarly the better. Even through the dark months and when it’s snowing I still enjoy it, so Girdwood is perfect.”
Burns hopes that his art is of benefit to the community he calls home.
“I really want to be a big part of this place and participate in its creative craft events,” he said. “I feel it’s important to promote crafts with kids. Anything affiliated with that, I wholly support.”
“I remember my father coming to my school to demonstrate wood art and how great that was for us kids. I want that for the children here as well,” Burns said.
As for future growth plans, the Alaska Wood Wizard thinks organically.
“I have a three year old daughter who is incredibly creative, so the tradition might just continue,” Burns said. “For now, I can wood craft between seasons and always return to it as a creative font. Because I like it so much personally, I’ll continue to carve wood and share my art for the sheer love of it.”
“I’m just happy to be in Girdwood with my family, to be skiing and to be making wood art,” he said. “Love and gratitude is mantra.”
More information on the Alaska Wood Wizard can be found through the entity’s websites.
Visit: facebook.com/woodandclaycreations or etsy.com/shop/alaskawoodwizard to learn more.
Wood Carver Cody Burns, known as AK Wiz, displays his works.
