Koji Tanaka Woodworking

Charred Manzanita Burl Series #5, 7" wide x 6" tall x 4" deep, 2021, $375. Latest piece made from one of the charred Manzanita burls that burned in wildfires of years past. They were washed down the mountains by the subsequent rains out to sea where they eventually washed ashore. @areyousure_noreally and I have scoured the beaches from Goleta to Montecito collecting them and have amassed 50 or so of them in various sizes. The contrast of the black charring to the red interior... is beautiful and mesmerizing, like opening up a geode. Through devastation, beauty perseveres. Please let me know if you're interested in the piece and have any questions about it. #woodart #woodcraft #craft #woodworking #woodwork #wood #woodsculpture #sculpture #art #bowl #woodensculpture #madeinsantabarbara #handmade #handcarved #handcrafted #handsculpted #seesb #beautiful #nature #manzanita #manzanitaburl #california

Last two days before the silent auction closes! I have 4 pieces in it and would sincerely appreciate your support in helping the students and program I hold near and dear to my heart, the @sb_school_of_squash. Auction closes on Sunday, April 18th, at 7PM PST. Silent Auction link: https://paybee.io/@sbsos@3... Thank you for your support! #fundraiser #fundraising #fundraise #donation #donate #santabarbara #seesb #montecito #santabarbarafundraiser #nonprofitafterschoolprogram #nonprofit #nonprofitprogram #nonprofitorganization #lovingwineandchocolate #wineandchocolate #wine #chocolate #supportstudents #supportcommunity #community #santabarbarawinecountry #santabarbarawines #woodart #woodcraft #craft #art #artist #woodartist

Santa Barbara People! Please go to @sb_school_of_squash to enter our ticket giveaway for our guided tasting and virtual fundraiser! (Entries only valid on that page/post.) You'll have a chance to enjoy wine by @lincourtwine and @foleyestates , chocolate truffles by @jessicafosterconfections along with SBSOS party favors. You'll also enjoy music by @jasonlibs of @theredpianosb during the event. PLUS...I've donated 4 of my wood pieces for the silent auction. (See following phot...os for the pieces.) #fundraiser #fundraising #donation #donate #charity #tickets #giveaway #giveawaycontest #nonprofitafterschoolprogram #nonprofit #nonprofitprogram #supportstudents #supportkids #support #supportfamilies #santabarbara #seesb #montecito #goleta #carpinteria #woodart #woodcraft #craft #madeinsantabarbara #wineandchocolate #wine #chocolate #lovingwineandchocolate

It's hard to believe we're already just over a year since the coronavirus pandemic started. It's been difficult for most all over the world and we at @sb_school_of_squash weren't without our challenges, but have persevered through it all. As Program Director of SBSOS, I, along with everyone else at SBSOS, have gone above and beyond our job descriptions. We've done our best to help and support the students and their families on all levels. We are the SBSOS Family and we take c...are of our own. In order to continue our work, we need YOUR support. We unfortunately weren't able to hold our annual in-person fundraiser, but we'll be hosting a virtual one instead. "For The Love of Wine & Chocolate" virtual fundraiser will happen on April 18th from 4PM to 5PM. Being virtual, you can join us from anywhere in the world with our $25 Designated Driver ticket. For those of you in the Santa Barbara area, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy wine by @lincourtwine and @foleyestates, chocolate truffles by @jessicafosterconfections and SBSOS party favors with the Connoisseur or Connoisseur VIP tickets. With the VIP ticket, you'll have those items delivered directly to you! There'll also be music and entertainment by @jasonlibs. (Ticket link in my bio.) PLUS... I'll be donating at least four of my pieces to the silent auction. You'll have the opportunity to bid on and win my pieces possibly below their value while supporting SBSOS. If you'd like more info about the pieces in the following photos, please email me at [email protected] We're also still looking for premier sponsors and in-kind auction donations. Please send any inquiries to Executive Director Robert Graham at [email protected] or me at [email protected] THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE EVENT! #fundraiser #fundraise #fundraising #donate #donation #support #supportstudents #supportkids #supportcommunity #nonprofitafterschoolprogram #nonprofit #nonprofitorganization #nonprofitprogram #students #wine #chocolate #wineandchocolate #lovingwineandchocolate #lovewineandchocolate #supportlocal #woodcraft #woodworking #woodwork #woodart #woodartist #art #craft

Look at me influencing all over Instagram with my 573 followers...with posts once every two months or so 2020 sucked for most and here we are already two months into 2021. I became consumed with my work helping the students and families of @sb_school_of_squash through the pandemic and am continuing to do so. Woodworking wasn't in my priorities, but I did receive some good news back in December. A private collector couple informed that after years of discussions and researc...h by the curators, two of my pieces in their private collection along with over 40 other pieces will be donated and accessioned into the permanent collection at the Renwick Gallery @renwickgallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum @americanart in Washington, DC. They are both African Mahogany pieces and are approximately three feet long by four inches deep by five inches tall. It was an unexpected and pleasant surprise. I didn't start out woodworking seeking such recognition, but I was elated to get this news that two more of my pieces will be in a prestigious institution along with my piece at the @yaleartgallery First Image: Top photo - "Uragaeshi" (Inside Out) Bottom Photo - "Nagame" (View) Second Image: "Uragaeshi" (Inside Out) Third Image: "Nagame" (View) Photo Credit: Mitro Hood Photography #woodart #woodcraft #woodshop #woodcarving #wood #woodworking #woodwork #woodartist #art #artist #museum #smithsonian #smithsonianmuseum #renwickgallery #renwick #artmuseum #artmuseums #craft #carving #carvedwood #woodensculpture #sculpture #woodsculpture #beautiful #seesb #santabarbara #madeinsantabarbara #handcarved #handmade #handcrafted

Please support the Santa Barbara School of Squash!

Guess what?! Chicken butt...(Salem's favorite joke ) I'M BAAAAAACCCKKKKKK...in the woodshop to slowly begin doing some woodworking again... cautiously. I'll do my best to maintain safe physical distancing from my former boss and other workers in the shop. Lots of hand washing and sanitizing of high touch surfaces will be conducted. I'll wear my mask to be safe and keep others safe as much as possible as well. We'll see how it goes! Beginnings of a commission sculpture pie...ce to benefit the @sb_school_of_squash made out of redwood. Still hashing out the design, but will have a piercing towards the top middle. Stay tuned for the finished piece and others including that big piece behind me that's been sitting in the shop for months waiting to be finally finished P.S. I have not trimmed my beard since shelter in place went into effect in California. It's quite fluffy and poofy now #woodwork #woodworking #woodart #wood #craft #art #woodshop #sculpture #woodsculpture #woodensculpture #redwood #workinprogress #abstract #abstractsculpture #commission #handcarved #handmade #handcrafted #madeinsantabarbara #seesb #madebyhand #staysafe @ Koji Tanaka Woodworking See more

Hey guys, don't worry, I'm still making lots of sawdust and doing some woodworking... I was honored to be one of the 25 artists from around the country to design and create brand new piece for the exhibition titled, "The Woodworker's Journey: From Concept to Creation" at Schaefer International Gallery in @mauiartsculture. I'm in prestigious company, some of whom are not only colleagues, but dear friends as well. The exhibition opens to the public on January 7, 2020. I'll be... attending the opening reception the night before for the unveiling of everyone's pieces, so I'll keep mine under wraps until then. I'll also be on the panel discussion about the creation of our respective pieces. I'll only tell you that it's my first ever wall hanging piece I've made. Stay tuned! Exhibition website below and in my profile: https://mauiarts.org/exhibit-detail.php?id=102 #woodworker #sbwoodworker #woodworking #woodcraft #woodshop #craft #craftsman #handcrafted #handmade #handcarved #carving #carvedwood #art #artist #woodensculpture #sculpture #wallsculpture #sculptor #koa #hawaii #maui #madeinsantabarbara #santabarbara #santabarbaraartist @ Koji Tanaka Woodworking

The Santa Barbara School of Squash (SBSOS), the non-profit after school program that began volunteering for in 2010 and became Program Director of last June, is facing difficult obstacles like most other non-profits during these uncertain and challenging times. We serve low-income students/families and they are some of the most vulnerable in our community in need of extra support. Non-profit programs and organizations like ours are now more critical than ever to help and supp...ort the underprivileged. With schools closed, we at SBSOS have been working hard to support our students remotely the best way we can. In order to continue doing so, I'm asking for your kindness and generosity in supporting the program and its students that I love and care for deeply. For every piece I sell and commission I get, I will donate 50% of the proceeds directly to SBSOS. All the pieces on here are for sale. I also do have more inexpensive pieces in stock and will take commissions as well. I'm willing to workout a payment plan for any of the pieces. If you're unable to purchase a piece, but would still like to help, you can make a tax-deductible donation in whatever amount you can directly to SBSOS at www.sbsos.org/donate Please DM me or comment below about pricing and details for each piece or if you have any questions. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and generosity! #nonprofit #nonprofitorganization #nonprofitafterschoolprogram #support #supportlocal #supportcommunity #communitysupport #donate #donation #supportstudents #supportkids #students #woodworking #woodart #woodcraft #craft #art #woodwork #wood #design #artist #sculpture #woodsculpture #wallart #decor #interiordesign #santabarbara #seesb #handmade #handcrafted @ Santa Barbara School of Squash

Post 3 of 4: The Woodworker's Journey: Concept to Creation, Schaefer International Gallery, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, January 7 through February 23. More pics of fellow artists' work in the exhibition. Amazing to see the diversity of approaches and methods used to create out of wood. ... #wood #woodworker #woodcraft #woodart #woodworking #woodshop #design #art #artist #craft #handmade #handcrafted #furniture #woodenfurniture #sculpture #creation #concept @ Maui Arts & Cultural Center

Post 2 of 4: The Woodworker's Journey: Concept to Creation, Schaefer International Gallery, Maui Arts and Cultural Center @mauiartsculture , January 7th through February 23rd. More photos of my fellow artists' amazingly spectacular work in the exhibition.... Photo 1 & 2: Feather 11.888 & 11.889, Miriam Carpenter @carpentermiriam, 2019 Photo 3 & 4: Display Cabinet, Alan Wilkinson, 2019 Photo 5: Fossilized Feather, Michael Cullen, 2019 Photo 6 & 7: Tribal Impulse, Marcus Castaing, 2019 Photo 8, 9, & 10: Waldo's Coffee, Paul Schürch @paulschurch, 2019 #wood #woodwork #woodworking #woodcraft #woodcarving #woodart #woodshop #art #craft #furniture #woodenfurniture #studiofurniture #design #handcrafted #handmade #maui #hawaii #marquetry #marquetryart #veneer #veneers #koa #artist #artistry #artistic @ Maui Arts & Cultural Center

Post 1 of 4: Finally revealing the piece I had mentioned about back in November! The Woodworker's Journey: From Concept to Creation, January 7 through February 23, Schaefer International Gallery, Maui Arts and Cultural Center @mauiartsculture This past weekend, I had the great pleasure of traveling to Maui to attend the opening reception and participate in an artists panel talk for the exhibition I'm a part of. Selected as 1 of the 25 artists from around the country, I'm humb...led and honored to be in such diverse and accomplished company of woodworkers. I'm friends with many of them, but it was wonderful to see some of their and other's amazing works in person for the first time. My piece titled, Akua, or "goddess" in Hawaiian is an abstract sculpture representing the Hawaiian goddess, Hina of Hilo, and her demi-god son, Maui. Made out of sacred Koa wood, the overall crescent moon shape represents Hina while the fishhook and outrigger canoe sail represent Maui. THANK YOU to Neida Bangerter, Director of the Schaefer International Gallery, for curating the exhibition and everyone else at Schaefer/MACC for making it happen. Posts with fellow artists' works to follow... #wood #woodcraft #woodwork #woodworker #woodart #woodartist #woodshop #woodensculpture #woodcarving #art #artist #sculpture #sculptural #abstract #abstractsculpture #maui #sbwoodworker #carving #koa #hawaii #hina #goddess #demigod #wallsculpture #wallart #walldecor #design #designer #craftsman #craftsmanship @ Maui Arts & Cultural Center

Proof I'm still doing so some woodworking... Working on something REALLY BIG. This will be the biggest sculpture I have made to date. It's a black walnut slab that started out measuring 6 1/2 feet long by 5 feet wide by 4 inches thick and weighing around 550 pounds. It will be a free standing or wall hanging piece designed specifically to fit a niche at the end of hallway for a brand new custom home being built in Hollister Ranch, just up the coast from Santa Barbara. Stay tuned for photos of the finished piece! #workinprogress #work #woodcraft #woodwork #woodworking #woodcarving #woodsculpture #woodensculpture #sculpture #wood #walnut #handmade #handcarved #carving #woodcarving #art #craft # #sawdust #makinglotsofsawdust #noreally #shittonofsawdust