Harvey Shinerock, originally from Los Angeles, California, started in the furniture business after a stretch in the Navy. He was a factory representative, store owner and then started his own furniture trucking business. Harvey was innovative and creative, trying to change office appearances by introducing new furniture shapes and colors. He was ahead of his time and not satisfied with the results, was soon looking for another business opportunity. In 1969, Harvey opened an art gallery in Ventura, California. The gallery wasn't a huge success but he did learn from an employee how to make picture frames. That lead to a lucrative five-year stretch with a frame making business in Israel. After returning to the United States, Harvey waited to see where his creative juices might lead him. During this period, Harvey discovered burl wood while participating in arts and craft shows. Most of what he saw was burl used for clocks but soon Harvey had taught himself enough about working with burl wood to create beyond timepieces. One thing lead to another and Harvey eventually perfected his technique of working with burl and expanded the objects he could produce, purchased the old post office building in Kerby, collected a group of talented young artisans around him, and developed his "It's a Burl" business.
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