Dimitrios Klitsas

Dimitrios was born shortly after the war in 1948, near the city of Ioannina in the foothills of northern Greece. This area, long a center of learning and culture, is home to both a Byzantine Museum and a modern university. The city was founded in 527 by the emperor Justinian and remained in Roman and then Greek hands until 1430, when it was captured by Turkey. It was finally liberated by the Greek army in 1913.

Dimitrios studied at the Ioannina Technical School, completing a formal and intensive four year study of classical design and carving techniques. The impact of this classical training can be seen in the beautiful work he produces, such as the corbel at right.

Moving to Athens upon graduation, he apprenticed to the acclaimed master carver Evangelos Moshos for five years. Then, after almost a decade of training and apprenticeship, Dimitrios opened his first shop in Athens which he operated for the next five years. His schooling in both classrooms and on the shop floor would eventually contribute to his teaching abilities (that's him in the foreground at left). But back in the 70s, he still had a lot to learn.
In a quest to expand his horizons, Dimitrios immigrated to the United States in 1974. Today, his polished technique represents a melding of that solid classical foundation and his years of experience, growth and development, both in Europe and America.

Arthur Ross Award
In 1994, Dimitrios was awarded the Arthur Ross Award in recognition of his ornamental woodwork (chiefly in residences) in the classical tradition. This very prestigious award is presented annually by the Institute of Classical Architecture to a craftsman whose mature work has exhibited a continued excellence and integrity in its application of classical ideals and canons.

Mr. Klitsas shares this honor with the foremost artisans of our time, including Odolph Blaylock (1985), Stephen Knipp (1993), Joseph Clark and the Craftsmen of the Metropolitan Opera, New York (1994), David Esterly (1995), and Laszlo Sallay in 2000, to name a few.

Looking at the classical column at right, it's no surprise that his work has been so honored. (Click on the image for a larger version.)

Credits
His work has appeared in numerous national publications, including Period Homes Magazine (Winter 2001), and Architectural Digest (December 1991). He also has been featured in an episode of the Modern Masters series on Home and Garden Television.

(Click on the shell for a larger view.)

Master Classes
Dimitrios has worked with clients and designers worldwide to produce masterpieces of carving. Now, he has also begun to teach. He helps beginning students to experienced artisans to define and reach their individual goals of craftsmanship and artistry.

From October to May, each week Dimitrios conducts a three-hour workshop on his premises. And, in response to a growing number of requests from around the country, he is now offering two-week intensive workshops in his studio in Hampden, Massachusetts.

(Click on the sconce at right to see an enlarged detail.)