My 79-year-old neighbor Jay McLauchlan, craftsman, sculptor, sailor, among other things, called the other day asking if I might be available for a job. It turns out that he was organizing a retrospective show of his furniture, sculpture and custom built staircases at the Gloucester Historical Association in November and needed a photograph of a table for the invitation. Considering that Jay and his wife Sara are about as good as neighbors get I’d be delighted, but only if we could also take a few pictures of him working in his studio as well. Jay hand-built his post and beam house next door shortly after we moved to Gloucester. It was great watching this evolution of timbers rising up from the ground. When the construction of the beams, recovered from an old mill, was nearly complete, the sunrise and sunset would bounce off the deep honey-colored timbers. I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed when the beautiful hand-carved timbers forming the skeleton of the house were eventually lost from my view by walls and a roof. Jay has an elegantly simple aesthetic and I’m pleased as hell for him that he’s going to get to share a lifetime presentation of his work. If you’re in Gloucester in November-January, stop by and take a look. http://www.capeannhistoricalmuseum.org/special/exhibits.htm
Jay McLauchlan,
