Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cassandra & Joe Boorom. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Cassandra & Joe thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

The Gnarled Barnacle is a name that Joe has been carrying with him since he was a kid playing D&D with friends. It was the name he chose for a tavern in the game.

Cassandra & Joe, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

We have both always leaned toward the creative, but a couple of things led us to making art as a primary gig. One was Joe’s retirement from the Navy and subsequent enrollment in the HBFA program at the University of Toledo, where he expanded his artistic scope by learning sculpture, painting and ceramics. The other was our discovery of Lichtenberg burning- the process of creating fractal patterns by running 10,000 volts of electricity through wood. We found this fascinating and felt compelled to try it ourselves. While some of our pieces are made from new materials, we strive to repurpose wood from multiple sources- from reclaimed pallets to scrap from woodworking friends, to old and broken furniture.
Many of Joe’s larger sculptures are statements on ecology, water management and the often negative impact that humans have on the planet. We try to create everything with environmentalism in mind.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

There are so many rewarding things about being a creative! We feel that the winding road through each project- from conception to problem-solving, small (or sometimes huge!) failures to overcome, and the knowledge gained throughout the process is so satisfying. Like a wise person once said, the journey is the reward!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

In person shows are the way to go for us. We adore meeting people, talking about the process, seeing that spark of joy and enthusiasm for what we do on their faces. We especially love a series of shows that takes place annually called Frankenfest. Check them out at frankenfest.com, and come see us at any of the four events happening this summer and fall.

Contact Info:

• Website: Gnarledbarnacle.com
• Instagram: Gnarled Barnacle (@gnarledbarnacle) – Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gnarledbarnacle/
• Facebook: Gnarled Barnacle | Facebook https://m.facebook.com/gnarledbarnacle/posts/d41d8cd9/101978855538748/

Image Credits
Courtney Fillion