You can’t see a person’s talent by looking at them. You can’t see someone’s heart either, though, and that’s where talent lives. Yes, Jerry Bair looks like a Regular Guy, but his art is exquisite.
Today, for example, he finished some hardware on a gate his PIP crew didn’t finish on Saturday. (Here’s an article on the Property Improvement Program and its founder, Betty Dunn, scrolling to the end. It’s where I met Jerry.) It was a good act by a good guy.
Born in southeast Kansas, Jerry’s adventurous parents moved to the Oregon coast when he was 4—without jobs waiting. His younger brother was born there before the family moved to Las Vegas and then to Ozona, Texas, following oilfield work. His dad wanted to become an auto mechanic, which brought them to Dallas and Lincoln Tech when he was about 10.
Jerry served in the Air Force after Skyline High School. At Plattsburgh AFB, he was close enough to the Lake Placid Winter Olympics to watch Eric Heiden set a speed skating record and win 5 gold medals. He retired from SEW-Eurodrive after 26 years. He now does home inspections. He met his lovely wife Julie in Duncanville, where they attend First United Methodist Church.
His history will seem familiar—taking apart broken appliances and building one working bicycle out of 8. He bought a cheap scroll saw and learned how to use it on YouTube. First, he made small ornaments–until he saw the intarsia “Sailing Home” in 2009 and bought the pattern. Weeks later, he finished this satisfying project.
Jerry learned that he can see how things should be sculpted, not just cut and glued. It takes a long time—and the results are unique and set his work apart. Three blue ribbons in 2025!!
Jerry loves intarsia work. It takes hundreds of hours. He has to find or design a pattern, choose woods—often cherry, walnut, and maple—cut out the pattern and then the wood, place them together on a backer board, shift them around until his eye says it’s right, shaping, compensating for blade width, and much more. Gluing can be nerve-wracking, he explained. Danish oil brings out the woods’ colors, as no stain is used, then a spray of lacquer and a buff with a brown paper sack.
Most proceeds from any sales go to Jerry’s church. He’ll watch a bidding war if he has donated a piece to an auction—sometimes amazed at the prices—then do a second piece for the loser, thereby doubling the donation. Once that meant $6400!
Some parts of his story are surprising. Jerry isn’t good at drawing, for example. He makes his own designs using a computer. And he has a spectacular gift for giving back. When his mother was dying of cancer, he was always with her, showing her his art day after day.
Jerry has small wooden “Heart Hugs” that he shares with strangers. Each has a caring message, and he asks only that the recipient share them again. This can bring unexpected reactions. He was having lunch at Love Field once when he saw two tearful women. He went over and gave each two Heart Hugs. One began sobbing, which was startling, but she came over later and gave him a big hug.
This is a lot of words about Jerry Bair. Inadequate words at that. Look at his art, love it, and hope for one of his Heart Hugs, even though you’ll have to give it away.
Jerry’s Etsy shop–
What a wonderful tribute for a truly talented man. His work is exquisite!