Walter Benjamin Bookends by Peg and Awl
In honor of Walter Benjamin’s birthday celebration at Art in the Age, local artisan Walter Kent, who with his wife Margaux make up the craft duo Peg and Awl, created an original series of hand-crafted Walter Benjamin bookends. These beautiful and unique wooden bookends will premier at the Walter Benjamin party, and will be for sale at the AITA store. We were lucky enough to get a step by step demonstration of the building process from Walter Kent himself.
Walter Benjamin’s profile is penciled by hand onto a piece of reclaimed old growth pine, before it is carefully cut out with a band saw.
Next the profile piece is glued and clamped on to an L shaped backing.
After the glue sets, any excess is removed from the edge.
Then ol’ W.B. gets a prep sanding to make sure all his facial features are clean and smooth.
Walter and his son Soren hold the small and large sized bookends that are now prepped and ready to be painted.
Walter uses a milk-based black paint, an old fashioned non-toxic formula that’s so safe even Soren can help paint.
Soren puts the finishing touches on his bookend.
All it needs is a fine sanding, another coat of paint, and this Walter Benjamin bookend will be ready to hit the shelves.
Be sure to attend the Walter Benjamin birthday extravaganza to see the finished product!
Check out more of the amazing creations from Peg and Awl here.
Also see Peg and Awl’s featured in Apartment Therapy and The Kitchn.
