The Island Table began with raw black locust slabs - a dense, nearly indestructible hardwood prized for its rich grain and natural resistance to decay. Each piece carried the organic irregularities of growth: knots, voids, and the sinuous edges where bark once met air. Rather than impose uniformity, we embraced these natural absences as opportunities.

Working with deep black resin, we filled the negative spaces between wood sections, creating a composition that reads like an aerial view of an archipelago. The resin pools and flows around the locust islands, its glossy surface contrasting with the wood's warm, textured grain. Light catches differently on each material - absorbed into the wood's depth, reflected sharply off the resin - creating subtle shifts in appearance throughout the day.

The technical challenge was considerable: black locust's density makes it notoriously difficult to work, requiring sharp tools and patient hands. The resin pours demanded precision to achieve perfectly level surfaces that align seamlessly with the wood. Multiple pours built up the depth gradually, each layer curing before the next, until wood and resin met at a unified plane.

The result is a 10-foot gathering space where the drama of natural form meets meticulous craft. What began as separate pieces of timber, shaped by decades of growth, now functions as a singular object - proof that careful making can honor material while transforming it into something entirely new.