FROM THE WORKSHOP
Shaped by Hand. Guided by Nature.
Working with aspen and stone, each piece follows the material—never forced into design.
Every piece starts with the material itself.
I work with aspen and natural forms, shaping each piece by hand—following what’s already there rather than forcing it into something new. The process is slow, deliberate, and never repeated.
Greg Martodam was born and raised in Saskatchewan, but currently lives and works in Calgary, Alberta. He is an artist and craftsman who’s suspended, wall mounted or free standing tables blend nature’s vibrant energies into beautiful collectors pieces. His melding of rock and wood make each of his tables a piece of functional art and his passion is evident in each creation.
What comes out of it is one of a kind—built to last, and meant to belong.
Nature's Influence
Inspired by the Earth
Aboriginal peoples all over the world believe that stone is the keeper of wisdom of the ages, having been witness to the passage of time since creation began. They are the Stone People, the holders of historical records of any given area. Trees are the Standing People. The Cherokee believe that trees give service to all members of the animal kingdom, including humans, both while they are standing and after they have fallen. The Stone People are the keepers and the Standing People are the givers in perfect balance. Greg Martodam, as the craftsman, is the artist facilitating this fusion of nature.
Finding the right Aspen deadfall is a process of discovery through the scrub Aspen forest of the Southern Alberta Plains or the larger stands of Aspen in Northern Saskatchewan. Aspen, being a tree with a short life-cycle, soon falls back to the ground to begin the next phase of its relationship to the Earth. Aspen grows in strangely twisted and gnarled shapes and, with the process of decay, turns color to include bright reds and even turquoise. The unique nature of this magnificent wood plays a significant role in what makes Martodam’s work so breathtakingly beautiful.. The wood itself seems to innately know its own contribution of form to the art. The local merges with the exotic in the marriage of hand-selected, ancient flagstone slate imported from China and India, and the short-lived indigenous Aspen.
Sunset rusty reds to the bottomless ocean greens of this remarkable stone offer the harmonic balance of fire and water in these the most primal of elements of Mother Nature. Martodam’s eye is impeccable and the results obvious in the passionate pursuit of his craft.
Suspended, wall mounted or free-standing tables meld function with art in yet another revelation of yin and yang.
By Kari Klassen
We at Stonewaters Home Elements have been selling the beautiful handcrafted products from Aspen stone for nearly eight years. The one of a kind Slate and wood tables are carefully crafted with great attention to detail and design. We are proud to consider Aspen Stone products signature pieces in our Canmore location.
My decor is based on modern design but I wanted to ground the space with natural materials. Greg Martodam’s tables were the answer. Once I placed my new, beautiful coffee table into the living room I saw the difference it made to the whole feel of the space, and I found myself wanting more. I have now added an exquisite hanging shelf. My guests and I are amazed at how Greg was able to make the shelves level while all hanging from a single cable. My latest piece is a nightstand in my bedroom. This piece has added a calming, peaceful element to a the room. Greg’s work looks un-fabricated and is as original as any designer furniture maker.
We have enjoyed our beautiful slate and natural wood tables for over 6 years now. We love that they are uniquely individual works of art. The natural wood and slate fit wonderfully into our décor and we consider them to be one of our best purchases. Our tables are the focal point of our living area and we have received numerous compliments about them from friends.
Greg’s tables are functional while being artistic. They meld art, functionality and nature into one.