Mark A. Schmidtke

Woodworking, wood carving, photography, and dental material science have shaped how I see form, texture, and light. In retirement, these interests converge in sculptural vases that use the South Carolina palmetto as both structure and subject. Palmetto fronds, arranged like barrel staves, anchor each vessel, while epoxy resin binds, seals, and preserves their natural rhythm. More recently, I have embedded backlit photographs into the vase walls, integrating image and light directly into the form. This illumination offers a contemporary expression of “piercing the form,” opening the work from within. Each piece reflects the palmetto’s quiet geometry and the ways craft, memory, and material can illuminate one another.

If you’d like to know more about my work, please email me.

Contact email: markaschmidtke@gmail.com