Heather Zusman is a wood sculptor and artist originally educated in fine furniture making. Born and raised in California she sought training at Waters and Acland furniture school in Stavely, Cumbria, England in 2017. She also studied in Japan. Influenced by traditional woodworking practices and design motifs found in art nouveau and the arts and crafts movement, Zusman's sculptural works are simple in form and purposeful in detail. The dialogue between form and displaced shadow is a critical theme found in Zusman's work. Sinuous paths are laminated from layers of veneer to create an organic balance, allowing each piece to appear effortless and light. Process: Zusman layers 16-20 pieces of 1/42" thick veneer together using veneer glue and vacuum press. She places the bundles of glued veneer inside a plastic bag, seals it, and then uses a vacuum to draw out all the air. The bag applies pressure across the entire length of the veneer so that there are no gaps or spaces left in between. Zusman then hand shapes the bundle using a pegboard system shop table and clamps it in place as it dries over the next 8-9 hours. Once the glue has dried, the piece will appear to be a 1/4" solid piece of wood that has been bent. There is no heat or steam used in this process.