Wood carver welcomes visitors near Oregon coast

It's not difficult to find an artist of one kind or another along a rural Oregon highway. For example, Mike Kain makes and sells what he calls "exotic wood furniture and wood carvings," from his workshop and showroom along U.S. 20 near Eddyville, Oregon -- a town with a city limits sign but little evidence of a town. If you are traveling this lonely road and notice Mike's business, "Amongst the Woods," stop to check it out. There is plenty of room to park any size RV.

Outside, there's a hodgepodge of weathered carvings -- furniture, a swing, and even a tree house with a single chair, presumably for soaking up the sun on the rare day it appears. Inside Mike's showroom is where the good stuff is displayed -- beautiful carvings, often of burl, most of it functional -- chairs, coffee tables, end tables. Mike says working in this remote location is good for business. "In a gallery, you get very few buyers," he says. "Most people just look. Here, most of the people who stop buy something." He said much of his work is commissioned. "Fireplace mantles are popular," he said. He also sells jewelry, glasswork, pottery and other art work made by his wife and friends. Prices on jewelry start at about $15. Prices on Mike's furniture and other creations are reasonable compared to what it would sell for in a big city. I told him that I thought his work would sell for two to three times more in Seattle, where I live. Mike is located at 25847 Highway 20, about 15 minutes east of Newport, along the Oregon coast (541-875-4200).