Out of the Dust

Want to learn woodworking? Josh Cohen of Craftsman Ave nails it with tips on overcoming challenges, working with reclaimed materials, and the wisdom of KISS (keep it simple, stupid!)

How did you first get into woodworking? Is there a particular moment or person that inspired you?

I started woodworking back in my early teens. I remember my friend’s father showing us how to be safe in the shop. I’ve always been building and creating things—if I didn’t know how to do or make something, then I kept trying until I figured it out.

I originally went to college for accounting and business, but during my junior year I took some classes in fine woodworking and joinery with a professor named Alex Roskin, and I was hooked. Wood was just so inspirational to me, from the different types of grain structures to the varying colors of exotic woods. My mind was just flooded with ideas, and the possibilities seemed endless.

When I graduated college, I went on to work for a high-end picture framing studio called Bark Frameworks. We made picture frames for places like MOMA, the Guggenheim, Matthew Marks, and more. While I was there, I honed my skills and learned a lot about high-end woodworking and finishing.

When I left Bark, I started PDA {Cohen’s own company}. Now we have a big woodshop, and I really have the chance to display some of my skills while producing beautiful, inspirational work.

How did you come to teach at Craftsman Ave? What makes your classes unique?

I met Taras awhile back when he expressed interest in having me teach some woodworking classes at his studio. It was during the winter, and usually that time of year is a little slow in my industry. I had the time, and I figured...why not?

I love teaching. I’m really intrigued by the process of learning, and it’s really important to me to create a learning environment that’s fun, easy, and informative. I’d say I’m more of a “coach” than a teacher. I work with each student individually to help them understand the process, not just complete a project.

Can you tell us a bit more about PDA? What was your inspiration for the necklace planters?

I started PDA about two and a half years ago. I’ve always been really inspired by the idea of recycling and repurposing. I just love the challenge of working with these “less than perfect” materials.

PDA started as a small home goods and accessories brand that I ran out of my loft in Bushwick. We’ve since built a large woodworking studio in the Catskills, and have expanded to include some high-end custom furniture, which we’re currently producing for the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton.

The necklace planter has been the staple of PDA ever since I started the company. I just really like the idea of working with everyday found objects. Keeping things simple, yet complex. I’m really inspired by Marcel Duchamp’s work and his idea of “readymade art.”

Necklace Planter made by Josh Cohen

The idea for the necklace planter actually came up when I made a gift for a friend who’s a botanist, and wound up being featured in French Vogue. It’s made from a recycled Belgian beer cork. We drill and channel the corks out, then inlay crushed stones and crystals. We originally used small succulents with a tiny amount of soil as our plants, but have since found that air plants seem to work better, and are more durable.

How about your “We are One” piece? What part of it was reclaimed?

We are One by Josh Cohen

That’s an original Woodstock afterprint from 1969. I got it from an old farmer that lives near my studio in the Catskills. It’s such a beautiful print, and I wanted to frame it in something that could complement its beauty and history.

The frame is made from locally-sourced reclaimed walnut that came from an old bar built in the 1960s. I thought it would be appropriate to frame the print in something from the same era.

Is there a time you can recall that you failed at a project, or faced a particularly brutal woodworking challenge?

Yes. Everytime I work on a new project, I face something challenging. I don’t fail, though. Woodworking is all about problem solving. When you make a mistake, you either figure out how to fix it, or figure out how NOT to make that same mistake again. You learn pretty quickly.

When I do mess up, though, I usually curse, leave, the shop, and take a break. Woodworking is very mentally taxing. There’s a lot of think about, and it’s really easy to make little mistakes here and there.

What are your top three tips for things people should learn if they’re looking to get into woodworking?

1. Take your time! Don’t rush things. Woodworking is a very tedious craft. When you rush, you make mistakes.

2. Measure twice, cut once! Redundancy is key. I know it’s a pain to double-check everything, but just DO it, because it will pay off in the end. You can always cut more off, but you can’t put more back on.

3. Don’t get too complicated! In the beginning, keep things simple. There are a lot of woodworking plans and designs online, most of which are super complicated. It would benefit a new woodworker to design and draw out plans for all of their projects. Just do some research—it’s a lot more gratifying if you design it yourself.

If this inspired you to break out your sander and get to cutting, browse and book a woodworking class with Josh at Craftsman Ave.