Hand Carved Ghanaian Decorative Wood Box with Leaf Motif 'Nature's Keepsake' Item ID: 2671800934

"My name is Ralph J. Ashong, and I am a professional sculptor and designer. I believe in the maxim: 'Creativity is the essence of art,' hence my steady ongoing tradition of creative contribution to the development and promotion of Ghana's rich culture.

"I was born a creative person, I have a love and passion for art. At school I loved creating beautiful collages and jewelry items. Eventually I understood the economic potential behind arts and crafts when I realized the deep sense of fulfillment I first felt when I could earn from it. I learned I could provide my basic needs by doing what I created out of love and passion. The jewelry products I made then were made out of wood I carved out myself, leather and glass beads.

"My interest rose higher when I passed to enroll in the College of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology where I graduated after six years with an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in Sculpture, First Class. In the same year I won the Mobil Award for the best student sculptor. I am a Masters graduate in African Art from the same university.

"I joined the crafts production department of the National Cultural Center in Kumasi, Ashanti Region in 1983 and rose to the position of its head. I resigned from that position in 1987 and worked at various craft companies and institutions working in various positions for another seven years until I founded my very own workshop with my late wife in 1994.

"I have since been designing and crafting for both retail and wholesale. I love the process of designing and crafting. It is a great feeling to craft something out of almost nothing, it feels like giving life to an object. A plank of wood, for example, takes on a form or meaning once carved into a dreamed up design.

"As a pioneer in the contemporary handicraft sector I have a strong tradition of product design and adaptation through the process of recycling wood and metal (iron, brass, and aluminum) and glass scraps, giving them added value. Much of the reclaimed wood I use would has been used as fuel wood with its attendant degrading impact on the environment.

"I also work as a Product Design Consultant, collaborating with local craft men and women. I have so far helped close to thirty wood carvers, brass smiths, and glass workers living in the countryside by re-directing their creative skills towards more innovative, environmentally and socially friendly production methods and materials to craft products that meet contemporary tastes and needs.

"Through my work as an artist, I was able to build a wood bridge for my community in 1994. In 2003, I built a water reservoir behind my home from which members of my community to this day continue to fetch water. I have also provided a strong metal ramp over an open drain. This enables free and easy movement for both vehicles (including tipper and cargo trucks) and pedestrians.