Naples woodshop turns century-old trees from Southeast Asia into functional art

NAPLES, Fla. — Inside the woodshop behind Naples’ iconic Cocoon Gallery, giant slabs of wood imported from Southeast Asia are being transformed into one-of-a-kind tables, mirrors, and sculptures. Founder Mitchell Siegel calls it “functional art.”In the 20,000-square-foot workshop on 5th Ave North in Naples, artisans carefully dry, flatten, hand-sand, and sometimes fill natural cracks with colored epoxy, turning raw wood into unique designs. WATCH TO SEE WHERE THE COCOON GALLERY'S ART IS MADE BY HAND:Naples woodshop turns old trees from Southeast Asia into functional art“We’re creating pieces of art from nature. We’re enhancing nature,” Siegel said. People assume art is for walls — but we create functional pieces you can use, like a dining table or a coffee table," he explained.