George Nakashima with wood for the Peace Altar, for St. John the Divine, 1980s,  photography by Jack Rosen, courtesy of James A. Michener Art Museum

In order to facilitate his Altars of Peace, George Nakashima was faced with a daunting challenge: how to mill a tree that was far larger and far wider than any specimen he had ever worked with in his career.

Fortunately, George consulted Albert LeCoff, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Center for Art in Wood, and Albert recommended sawer Scot Wineland from Chico, California. Through this collaboration, George was able to start work on his first Peace Altar pictured above. 

The photos below, taken by Albert LeCoff, show the various stages of the milling process. The workmen pictured are Scot Wineland (in the leather jacket) and Norman Hughs.

(Photos from The Center for Art in Wood's Fleur and Charles Bresler Research Library)