Jensen Knives Intro...

Hi John,

Like the others, I'm pleased to see you join. I hope you would spend more time here, and pay the insignificant upgrade in fees to become a 'knifemaker' member.

You have SO much to share and teach. This world of ours is so very diverse, and your realizations are, as you refer, an acquired taste. I like that.

One of my very respected friends owns a VERY successful art gallery in my town and YOUR knives drew him in. He displays your piece proudly in his personal office.

STeven, I'm impressed. Really. You qualified yourself and got right to the point. Your perspective. No bashing. Fair enough.

John, I own a piece by Jeffrey Cornwell, which is closer to your work than a user. (it's the guitar 'dagger'.) I'm as proud of that one as well as the little Custom on my belt I'm using today.

See you around!

Jim
 
Thanks guys, give me some time to get my bearings and I'll look into paid membership.. in the meantime, I wont post anymore pics, etc.
So, what shall we talk about!? :)
 
John,

Tell us what shows you might be planning to exhibit at in the future, or your favorite past show. Your works are generally out of the knives mainstream.

What are the responses in the artist and metalworking community?

Thanks,

Jim
 
For whatever reason, I didn't start reading this thread until just now. I've thoroughly enjoyed "500 Knives" and enjoy your work, too. Glad you are here in the forum.

Bob
 
I currently have a piece on view at the Mesa Art Center / Museum in a show put together by one of the Curators at the Museum of Arts and Design in NYC, and I'm waiting word on a possible show curated by the editor of American Craft Magazine...

I don't do knife shows anymore.

As to what people think, some people love what I do, some hate it. I have a different approach, and that to me is a good thing. The larger metal-smithing community seems to like me more than the "knife" community...

Do I like the fact I kind of ruffle feathers? It's amusing, but that's not the reason I do what I do...

I have my own philosophy and many will think it is BS, & that is OK. There are a lot of perspectives out there and outside of the knife world people really want to know the reasons behind why I make what I make. I have been forced to answer those questions, and many might not like the answer. To bring my work to a different audience, I have been required to look at the things that make people uncomfortable about knives and my work. Some might call that "metaphor", and I may have used such terminology in the past to try to describe what I'm doing... I have spent many years trying to describe why I do what I do, and I've not always been successful at articulating it. It is an ongoing process, like the evolution of my knives themselves. My story is unique as to why I make knives. It is my own personal story, so no one has to like it. It is what it is. I'm currently working on a re-write of my Bio, which I hope will shed some light on things, and I've recently re-worked my "Artist Statement".

I like making what I make, and that is ultimate success. I would still do it, even if I never sold another piece, people threw tomatoes at me, or if nobody ever saw what I did.

In the end, I'm pretty damn good at my craft, and you can't take that away. People can debate the merits of my work all they want: I've heard it all in and out of the knife community, and nothing has, or will sway me from making what I want to make, so I hope we can get past the "is it a knife", or even the "is it art" debates.

I'm here to learn, and to share my knowledge if anybody wants it...

Time will tell! :)
 
Welcome to Bladeforums John. Please hang around and buck up for the knifemaker membership so we can see more and learn from you. I see your work as art as well as knives and an appreciate anything you say as a motivator.
 
John, Your skills rock!!
Your knives are incredible, and build techniques are exqusite!!
Greg
 
Wow!!! Two old friends I have not seen in a long time. JLJ who not only is a wonderful art knife maker but an outstanding photographer as well and my friend John Etzler whom I was not aware was around the knifemaking world as I have not seen him since I was last at the Dover show many July's ago. Welcome to the group and hopefully there will not be issues with the powers that be. BTW -- not sure if you guys are CKCA members but you may wish to check out that organization and hopefully we will speak at the dinner before Blade 2013.
 
I wish I had been more aware of custom knives when I was in art school. I'm happy with the way my life has unfolded, but I never seemed to latch on to a particular media and approach until the very end when I started working in metal. By then it was too late and I decided to drop out do to politics and bs, and do something I loved caused it seemed like art was no longer it. But you can never stop loving to make art if you started making it cuz you love to.
 
John,

That was insightful. Thanks.

Toss in a couple of those W.I.P. images of your creations. I like creative metal working, and so do others.

Coop
 
Nice to see something new. Hang in there. More knifemakers need to see your work. You should come to Blade sometime just to visit, just don't forget your beautiful wife.
Gary
 
Thanks guys... I've been trying to get back for a Blade Visit for the last 3 years, but crap always come up, maybe next year... No Kristina though, she almost threw a fist at some crotchety old timer who was being inappropriate... we filed a complaint, but it went nowhere, so one of the reasons I stopped doing the show

And Murray, hey! I was thinking the same thing! Good to see you! And I haven't seen Etzler in 10+ years either!

Oh, and got word yesterday, The American Craft Magazine Editor did invite to to participate in a gallery show up in S.F. :)
 
Had a question for Steve... not to split hairs, but when and where have you handled any of my knives??

I haven't done any shows in years, and I never usually had more than 2 on my table. A lot of the time I had in-process stuff on my table, and sometimes a lot of people thought my in-process stuff was actual finished work, when it fact it was not. And most of the time, with my wife as watch dog, nobody even got to touch my stuff! So, very possibly a mix-up is afoot. :)
 
Dan Delavan's Plaza Invitational show and The Santa Barbara show.....the pieces I handled were finished work. Your wife and I had a 20 minute conversation about your work at Santa Barbara....she wanted my opinion, and I gave her two opportunities to leave it alone...yet she persisted.

The knife that we were discussing was, in conventional grip, the most uncomfortable knife that I have ever handled...it was like a torture device. Your wife demonstrated how it was intended to be held, between the thumb and forefinger, as one would handle a soiled diaper...I actually laughed out loud. Good times.

That said, I do look forward to having the opportunity to handle your work again....and WANTED to like it....but at the time, was unable to do so.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Jensen Knives said:
Had a question for Steve... not to split hairs, but when and where have you handled any of my knives??

I haven't done any shows in years, and I never usually had more than 2 on my table. A lot of the time I had in-process stuff on my table, and sometimes a lot of people thought my in-process stuff was actual finished work, when it fact it was not. And most of the time, with my wife as watch dog, nobody even got to touch my stuff! So, very possibly a mix-up is afoot. :)
Click to expand...
 
Hum, OK, Not sure where I was for this? But I'll take your word for it. My wife and I are certainly not afraid of an opinion!
 
Jensen Knives said:
Hum, OK, Not sure where I was for this? But I'll take your word for it. My wife and I are certainly not afraid of an opinion!
Click to expand...

While I am not generally a memorable person, I was wearing a 3-piece gray sharkskin suit at Santa Barbara and a black fedora in case this jogs your memory.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
While I am not generally a memorable person
Click to expand...

I need to stop reading stuff like this while eating lunch. One of these days I will choke to death at my desk and my coworkers will all celebrate. :)

Mr. Jensen, while the style of many of your knives don't appeal to me (there are a few that do, though), I am very intrigued by the additive construction methods you employ. I would love to see what would result from this "philosophy" applied to knives more suited to use.
 
Nope, not ringing a bell. I meet a lot of people in a lot of places... Well, like I said, some people hate 'em... Don't matter to me.
 
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