By Art Johnson
Special to the Reporter
Bothell’s own, Russell Lowman owns Jackson’s Place in Country Village. The business has wide variety of furnishings and sculptures handcrafted from Northwest wood. It allows Lowman to be creative. But it wasn’t always like that for the man who has gone from fishing to teaching high school. He has learned many lessons from navigating life’s journey, personally and in business.
Lowman began his journey growing up on Mercer Island, in a fisherman’s family, fishing with his dad since age 5. During his high school years, his life involved trying new things and having new experiences, some of them risky and some of them now legal. In spite of it all, his working life began by partnering with his dad in the fishing business in 1968 at age 15.
Just two years later in 1970, he bought his first fishing boat. Lowman’s vessel sank at one point during his career and he found himself bobbing in the freezing Bering Sea. But he continued on.
He met his wife in high school, went to college, continued fishing with boats in Alaska and Washington, raised two kids, put away money, bought and paid off his house and paid for his children to attend college. He fished for 33 years until he decided to change course.
He renewed his education and became a high school history teacher. He then left teaching “when it was no longer enjoyable,” as something else was brewing inside.
It all had to do with “a deepening” that was going on within Lowman, getting at the essence of life and continuing to work while seeking a new expression.
At the time, he didn’t know what to do next, but down deep he knew it had do with being creative and being challenged. Dealing with the high school administration and district policies, coupled with a changing educational landscape, Lowman liked the idea of working for himself again and working with his hands.
The new direction took shape after striking up a friendship with the former owner of Jackson’s Place in Country Village. Lowman decided to buy the business. Life was good and this opportunity represented a whole new horizon. Using his latent creativity, he could express it by working creatively with nature’s wonderful gifts, amazing twisted juniper wood from the high desert of eastern Oregon and ancient redwood salvaged by collectors. He also works with polished granite that marries well with his rustic wood pieces of furniture and artwork.
There was also the challenge of developing his new business in a now 21st century world. Lowman had not worked with computers in a long time. He moved forward, purchasing a business class broadband connection and implementing a cloud-based IT infrastructure. He also bought a brand new laptop.
He also moved way ahead by developing a cloud-based website and by becoming a web television “celebrity” on YouTube, producing a short HD video program each month, blogging it and then sharing his content on Google+ and Facebook. Although Lowman realizes that Internet marketing success doesn’t happen overnight, he is well on his way.
Today, Jackson’s Place has become the place where Lowman’s life comes together, expressed in the wonderful natural wood furniture and pieces of art he creates. His clientele enjoys hot coffee and Saturday pastries. As people come by and connect, they are treated to seeing wonderful work.
Yes, when it comes to navigating life’s journey, there are many wonderful lessons to learn from being in the creative and wise presence of Lowman.
For more information on Jackson’s Place, visit www.jacksonsplace.biz.
