Although the Indians are Hatcher's personal favorites, this cowboy is an example of the intricate detail and bold, natural wood colors featured in the craftsman's work. Hatcher uses no dyes on the wood in his pieces. The handkerchief around the cowboy's neck was created from African blood wood, an exotic wood that is naturally vibrant red. Each hair in the cowboy's mustache was individually carved. [Click to enlarge]

The latest exhibit in the Learning Resource Center at Dyersburg State Community College features the intricate handiwork of a local craftsman and a variety of beautiful colors found in natural woods from around the world.

Retired Dyersburg optician Jack Hatcher will share his complex intarsia masterpieces with the community at an exhibit that begins with a reception honoring Hatcher and his work this Thursday. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the LRC. The exhibit will run through July.

"Intarsia is a style of decorative or pictorial mosaic art that dates back to the 14th century," said Hatcher, who said the original artwork was flat, with modern pieces adding rounded detailing to the intricate design. "I've been doing this for about five years. It's a therapy for me for some of my health problems. As a diversion, it's been a godsend."

Hatcher's wife, Rose, holds a sentimental rendering of one of the couple's dogs. [Click to enlarge]

Each completed piece of inlaid woodwork takes Hatcher hours of craftsmanship and painstaking attention to detail. Planning and patience go hand in hand to create the beautiful pieces like the ones on display at DSCC.

"I've always been kind of a handyman, "said Hatcher. "After I retired, I was looking for something to keep me busy. It was too hard for me to handle large pieces of wood. Small wood art is something I could do. I use a scroll saw and then, it is a lot of shaping and sanding. I use power tools for shaping and hand sand the final stage. There is no staining, the wood is sealed with a clear gel finish that requires three coats. (Each coat) dries one day each. Then, you have to glue all those pieces together and hope that they all go together the right way!"

Using a scroll saw, Hatcher cuts out pieces of exotic and local woods to create a complex puzzle enhanced by the color and grain of the wood selected. As the pieces are put back together, more detail work is added and the edges are rounded to create dimension and interest.

Another example of the many styles and colors of wood on display in the exhibit. Another of Hatcher's crosses was sold to a couple from Germany. [Click to enlarge]

"The placement of the grain has a lot to do with how it turns out," said Hatcher. "And the shading and rounding over (add interest.) I use exotic woods, like red woods that come from Africa, and domestic woods like oak and walnut. There is an aspen from Colorado that is as white as white can be. That's what you look for when you do this, beautiful pieces of grain."

Exotic woods featured in Hatcher's exhibit include African blood wood, purple heart, Peruvian yellow-heart, spalded ash, dramatic cedars and hues of all colors found in woods harvested locally and all over the world.

Hatcher has studied under one of the foremost Intarsia artists in the country, Judy Gale Roberts of Sevierville, Tenn. He purchases each pattern along with the rights to reproduce it, but Hatcher said each one becomes unique as the work takes on the style of the artist who creates the piece.

This piece won Best of Show at the World Scroll Saw Association's International Competition in Branson, Mo. in 2006. Hatcher competed with 250 different artists in the show and earned first place in the Complex Category, Best of Class and Best of Show in the competition.

"Every piece is an original," said Hatcher. "You add something or take it away. You make it your own."

Hatcher has entered his work in the World Scroll Saw Association's International Competitions in Branson, Mo. in 2006, capturing first place in the Complex Category, and earning Best of Class and Best of Show in the competition. In the show, Hatcher competed against 250 different artists with work on display.

He has also won several adult woodworking divisions and Best of Show for the past two years in the Dyer County Fair.

Dyersburg State Community College's Dean of the LRC Teresa Johnson helps local artisan Jack Hatcher hang his two favorite pieces of Intarsia on the wall facing the windows in the LRC. These Native American portraits are the result of over 500 hours of handiwork. Hatcher has loaned over 50 pieces of his intricate inlaid masterpieces to the college. A reception at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, will kick off the temporary exhibit that runs through July.

"It's not something I started out to sell," said Hatcher. "There has been an interest to buy it, but it is terribly labor-intensive. I had to figure out how to price it so it was affordable. I've sold quite a few pieces, though."

One of Hatcher's crosses sold to a couple from Germany and his work has been featured in a gallery in Lynchburg, at a Jack Daniels distillery.

He also creates many pieces to donate as fund-raisers for causes he believes in.

"I really enjoy making things to raise money to help people," said Hatcher. "I'm excited about having (my work) go on display at Dyersburg State. My enjoyment is for others to enjoy it, so this will give others an opportunity to see it."

For Jack Hatcher, the journey to create the art is as fulfilling as viewing the completed piece. It is an outlook shared by many artists, and one that makes creating the art a sanctuary all its own. For Hatcher, the process is an unexpected gift.

"I work a little bit every day, seven days a week," said Hatcher. "Even after church on Sunday. It's a gift to me. I just really enjoy doing it. This has been a highlight (of my life.) It has been a gift from heaven."