About this episode

Brian Presnell discusses his journey in transforming urban wood into art and furniture in Indianapolis.

What if the trees being cut down in your neighborhood could become the art hanging on your walls or the table your family gathers around? Brian Presnell of Indy Urban Hardwood has been making that vision a reality in Indianapolis since 2016, and his story is one of the most compelling in the urban wood world. In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, Jennifer Alger sits down with Brian to trace a journey that begins in art school at the Herron School of Art, winds through museum work and public art collaborations, and lands squarely in a sawmill shed in one of America's most tree-rich cities. Brian grew up surrounded by hardwoods in Indianapolis, watched them get hauled off and burned for decades, and decided to do something about it. Brian breaks down how Indy Urban Hardwood works, from sourcing logs through his firewood rig and local partnerships, to milling, drying, and turning urban hardwoods into furniture, art, and reclaimed wood products that tell the story of the city they came from. He talks candidly about the wastefulness baked into how most cities handle tree removal, and why changing that requires both community education and a business model that makes…

People in this episode

Host: Jennifer Alger

Guest: Brian Presnell

Topics covered

• urban hardwood
• sustainability
• community involvement
• furniture making
• art
• business model

Keywords

• urban hardwood
• sustainability
• furniture
• art
• community education
• Indy Urban Hardwood
• tree removal

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Indy Urban Hardwood, Herron School of Art

Places: Indianapolis, America

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