Winter 2025

Lauterbach says.“My work is the result of trial and error—a lot of error,” he adds with a laugh. Clearly, he’s improved on his errors immensely. His art is in a class by itself. A Wisconsin transplant, Lauterbach came to California for college in 1966. Just out of school, he and his wife Regena relocated to Monterey, and he purchased his first tool, a table saw. With that humble beginning, he started doing cabinetry work and then designing and crafting some fur- niture pieces, such as beautifully designed and carved coffee tables and mirrors. Soon, he turned to making functional art pieces. Lauterbach’s capacious workshop, built in 1992, is filled with every woodworking power and hand tool imaginable. There are works in progress and seemingly abandoned projects lying everywhere, along with Wood artist Craig Lauterbach has taken the craft of wood- working to an entirely different and incredibly creative realm. (Left) “Vessels” can be used for dried flowers, etc. (Right) Prior to developing the process of the intricate pieces that are his trademark, Lauterbach carved pieces like this lacewood mirror. (Below) “Wood You Be Mine.” 130 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 5