John D. Robson has been a professional woodworker for over 40 years, individually crafting his unique, one-of-a-kind mirrors, tables and other accessories from a variety of local woods. No two pieces are alike.
John and his wife, Sue, and their feline companions reside in a large old bank barn which sits along the banks of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The ever-progressing barn serves as both living and work space, and has been designated as a Rockingham County trail site of the Virginia Artisan Trail Network.
John is a juried member of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and carries his artistic functional pieces to high quality craft shows throughout the region including Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
"My business name, The Standing People, is an Indian phrase referring to trees. It is a concise statement of my primary purpose - to show the beauty and character of the woods I work with in a way that preserves their natural forms and relates to their life as trees. I use the woods that are indigenous to the Shenandoah Valley, where I live. I work mainly with forged wood, sawmill leftovers, and driftwood found along the river banks. I interpret each piece individually to find the best way to unite the decorative and functional aspects of the wood. My pieces carry on the rustic tradition of using wood in its natural form, while the fine craftsmanship and finishing give them a contemporary look."
