Gustav Pedersen Born in 1944 in New York City, Gus is a blend of technologist and artist. His father was a machinist and merchant sailor and his mother a painter from a Breton farming family. The result allows Gus to excel at both ends of the personality spectrum. He started in the U.S. Submarine service in the Western Pacific as Periscope Photographer. After the service he attained a BA in Finance and an MBA in Info Systems. So it is no surprise that his designs have a firm root in engineering and science. It’s also no surprise that he turned into an avid sailor, with thousands of miles of blue-water experience under his belt. Yet, at the same time, it is apparent that this artist is fluent in mixing curves and diagonals, as well as mixing opposites and contrasting elements. Much of his drive and inspiration comes from the silky feel of well-sanded wood, or the surprise of splitting a log and seeing a great and interesting grain pattern. Then comes the time-consuming task of translating artistic designs into the reality of finished wood pieces. Some ideas emerge from his workshop quickly, others take days and even weeks of experimenting and fine-tuning.