Alex has over forty years of woodworking artistry under his belt—his professional career as a theater designer and technical director. He quickly became known for his particular expertise in scene painting, printmaking and the structural and architectural details of working with wood. He turned his first piece (ballistrades for "Cyrano de Bergerac" while graduate assistant at Kent State University (Ohio) 1960. Extensive studies in art history and research on historical theater design has provided a foundation for much of his turning designs. As with his theater sets, each original design begins with hand-drawn plans that puts a modern automated CAD program to shame. Wallace says he usually figures his angles to the third decimal point. To experience his work is to be transformed back in time to when true workmanship ruled the world.