Wood fine art carver, Keoni, uses fire, sharpened steel, inks and collected objects to re-imagine wood into sculpture having the illusion of woven and beaded basketry. Keoni is a 2X juried Smithsonian artist who is inspired by the legends, values and mythology of global native cultures, and interprets these story tapestries into Contemporary Southwestern artwork. Sugar Maple hardwood provides the artist’s “canvas”. The reclaimed and sustainably harvested wood is first lathe-turned to shape a form; then designs are free-hand wood-burned and carved. Color is added using India and metallic inks and organics applied by hand to create one-of-a-kind and heirloom quality originals. It is not uncommon for artwork to require 25,000+ individual cuts/burns and colored cells to execute a design. Keoni creates in the moment, no pre-sketching or plotted design, each work of art evolves spontaneously with the wood itself participating in the symphony of creation. Today, Keoni is among only the very few excelling in these unusual carving techniques, bringing to life distant memories and values as a reference for shared history and learning. The artist is nationally recognized as a 2X Smithsonian artist (2021, 2020), and a 2X CM Russell Museum artist (2022, 2018). As well, he has exhibited at SOFA-Chicago, and is a four-time award winner at the Western Design Conference, was inducted in 2018 into the By Western Hands artisans' guild. He has had artwork featured in 20+ national juried events including at the Philadelphia Art Museum Fine Craft Show, Sedona, Ft. Worth, Denver and Albuquerque fine art exhibitions; and was an elected member of the Salmagundi Art Club of New York