Local artist of the week

In Bennett Goodman's world, an enormous flowerpot can become a sculptural cityscape reaching skyward, complete with a King Kong; an overgrown wooden computer keyboard enter key can be a bench; and picture frames can be ornate jewelry boxes.

Goodman is in charge of framing at Eye Level Art, where he uses color theory, years of experience with master framers and a woodworker's mentality in everything he does.

When he's not growing the base of clientele at Eye Level, Goodman says he turns recycled wood into art, which he describes as "a sculpturous look in a craftsman perspective in woodwork."

Growing up doodling, Goodman, a native of Orangeburg, took artistic cues from his deaf aunt, who expressed herself in a variety of media, including glass, oils and fabric.

Goodman attended the Savannah College of Art and Design for a semester.

Faced with the high cost of tuition, however, he says he turned to the Army to help foot the bill. After three years at Fort Bragg, N.C., Goodman made a run at Virginia Commonweath University School of the Arts in Richmond, which is renowned for its sculpture program.

The death of his father put Goodman's education indefinitely on hold, he says, though he intends to complete his final year some day.

For a few years, he worked under a master framer in Virginia before deciding to join his sister in Charleston, where he did construction and administrative work for contracting firms before he tapped into his creative side again. An apprenticeship with master carpenter and mentor David Puls brought Goodman into the world of cabinetmaking.

Goodman and his business partner, Mike Elder, started growing Eye Level Art. Collaboration with other artists is key, he says, just as the intersection of his skill sets, both visual arts and woodworking strengthens the aesthetic appeal in all of the work he does.

"Even through school, classes didn't mean that much, but the person I was learning from meant everything," Goodman said. "It's always been a human connection that's driven me in creativity."

Next Event: "Fr3sh" - August 1 at 6 Pitt St., downtown

Contact: Bennett@Eyelevelart.com.

Residence: Charleston, 5 years.

Price range: $50-$1,200. Creates commissioned works.

Currently Reading: "The Artistic Spirit" by Robert Henry.