Charles Wray’s love of wood art began when he was a student at Collingswood Middle School in Collingswood, Camden County. There, Wray met Gordon Heimbach, an industrial arts teacher whose woodshop class got him hooked on wood art.
“I really liked Mr. Heimbach,” said Wray. “His choices of what we made in class sparked my interest in woodworking. There was a small group of us in his class who were so interested in woodworking that he would give us extra time after class,” continued Wray. “Mr. Heimbach introduced us to woods such as mahogany and teak. We would make cutting boards and backscratchers. I made a backscratcher for my dad, and he loved it.”
Then life happened. After graduating high school, Wray went on to Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., where he became focused on journalism and worked on the school’s newspaper. From there, Wray secured a general assignment reporter position with The Press of Atlantic City, which led to a successful 38-year career with the publication.
During his tenure with the paper, Wray was the editor of the weekend section, Venture, which covered all the entertainment in Atlantic City. In 1991, Wray, who resides in Egg Harbor Township, became the city editor at The Press, a position he held for 16 years. After retiring from the newspaper in 2010, he worked for three years developing a news website for doctors before retiring for good in 2014.
Retirement changed the game for him. With extra time on his hands and after three decades in journalism, he returned to his childhood love – woodworking.
“It started out very small,” said Wray. “I would make useful things like a desk organizer or something I could give away as a gift.” At first, Wray would attend local art shows in South Jersey, but he didn’t think his woodwork was art.
However, what started as a whimsical hobby has become a labor of love. Encouraged by his family of artists – Wray’s wife and daughter are photographers – he began creating works of art using various types of unstained hardwoods. From multi-wood guitars to smooth, grained tables, to intricate wall hangings and centerpieces, Wray’s creations have gained considerable popularity in the South Jersey area.
In 2024, he was featured as an “Artist of the Month” at the Ocean City Arts Center in Ocean City. There, Wray showcased many exquisite wood art pieces, mounting a successful one-person show.
Charles Wray has an interesting philosophy about wood and its role in our lives.
“Wood deserves a second chance,” said Wray. “I used to work with newspapers, which of course are made from wood; I now work with wood to create pieces of art.”
Wray relishes his love of wood due to its intrinsic natural beauty and versatility. “Wood is flexible,” said Wray, “and that allows it to be molded into the most beautiful things imaginable.”
Some of Wray’s favorite types of wood are from tropical regions. bubinga and padauk are both strikingly colored, ranging from bright reddish-orange to darker reddish-browns to deep violets. When these woods are worked, they release a sweet aroma. As Wray incorporates them into his art, the result is a sense of movement and warmth that other mediums can’t duplicate.
Equally impressive is where Wray creates his wood art. Transforming his home garage into a wood-working workspace gave Wray the room he needed to feed his creativity. The space, at first glance, is a trove of huge machinery and complex tools. But a closer look reveals a well-thought-out area with assorted woodworking machines on wheels. Tools of every shape and size are neatly arranged for quick access as well.
In a world of mass-produced materials, using wood as an art medium stands alone. Charles Wray’s wood artistry bridges the delicate natural world with exceptional human craftsmanship. For this wood artist, nothing else compares to the tangible link of wood and nature.
