As we get off the bus the first person to greet us is Douglas Thayer’s dog. Mr. Thayer laughs and tells us she’s very excited to meet people. He seems to have equal enthusiasm as he tells us about his work.

He attended Rochester RIT and graduated

with a BFA. He was always doing different kinds of art, from glass blowing to woodworking. He loved doing anything with his hands. Once he graduated, most of his business was at art fairs and his furniture was Shaker style. One day at a craft fair, he had a coffee table made in his now signature cement and wood design on display. People kept sitting on it and remarking on what a wonderful bench it was. He quickly learned that this was what people liked. Now he only makes his wood and cement benches. Unlike many artists who like to try different things, he’s perfectly happy to stick with this design. He knows he’s lucky he can support himself through his art, unlike most artists. Like most people, his business has been affected by the Recession. He used to have a wide market for his benches, but now does mostly high end personal orders.

We stand outside his shop as he talks. He built it seven years ago and it’s the first shop he’s owned. The yard is full of trucks, old machines and of course, wood. Its smell fills the damp air and the rain gives it a shine. He shows us the different materials he uses. Teak is his favorite because it lasts the longest and in his mind is the most beautiful. He used to work in mahogany more, but it’s gotten too expensive over the years. Now he uses mostly reclaimed wood. He has blocks from a pickle factory from the big fermenting barrels. He tells us as you work with it the wood still smells like pickles. He also has long pieces from the old Coney Island board walk.

He shows us the large cement mixer outside, but seems eager to show us the shop. As we enter Queen’s “We Will Rock You” echoes out to us. The first thing that hits you is the pungent smell of wood chips. The space is huge, filled with large equipment and wood of every shape, size and color. Wood chips liter the floor. He tells us proudly he built and restored most of his equipment. The youngest tool he uses is from the 70s and the oldest from the 30s. Machines are his second love and he thinks they are as much a work of art as his benches. He encourages us to look around and touch everything. He leads us to a smaller back room where we have to squeeze together to fit. Inside are more old pieces of equipment he’s restored. Here metal shavings cover almost everything and I hesitantly reach out to touch it. “Go ahead, pick it up and feel it,” Thayer says, taking a pinch in his hand and putting it in mine. He picks up different drill bits and shows us the largest with pride.

When I asked him what he does for fun in his spare time he looks surprised and says “Making benches is fun for me!” He adds that he does take breaks at times because he hates the idea of getting bored with things. He’ll work on one of his old band saws or build more shelving. But his real love is his art. He hates the office work and the advertising and would be perfectly happy spending all his time in the shop.

As we leave he reminds us to take some wood scraps. “As you can see I’ve got too much already,” he says with a laugh. We smile and thank him, hauling off our prizes. He’s one of those people who loves what he does and wants to share it with others.