Bio

Sheri Tharp is an artist, a professional woodcarver and master teacher. She has taught woodcarving for 26 years and has taught children art, woodworking, and carving for 20 years. In 1979 she apprenticed with Berkeley woodcarver and teacher Ben Shaw, taking over teaching his classes when he retired. Tharp collaborated with her mentor Barbara Mercer, a wooden toy maker and child psychologist, to work with children, adults, and seniors in various programs. She was awarded a civics arts grant in 2002 and 2003 for her Wood Arts program, teaching middle school youth and senior citizens at New Age Academy middle school. Tharp is also a businesswoman, and with her husband is co-owner of Tharp-Hamilton Woodworking, a custom cabinetry business that specializes in fine woodworking.