A woman roamed around Torsten Gipperich's property, which will soon be transformed for the Lignum Vitae celebration, admiring his work.

She said his furniture and sculptures are different than anything she's ever seen.

Gipperich's home and the surrounding area demonstrate his goal of erecting a monument to the arts. His house is packed with recycled stained glass windows, various mechanical tools and parts and drawings that sometimes become sculptures and sometimes stay on paper. It is a labyrinth of work spaces and cozy rooms. Evidence of his work ethic and aesthetic is stamped on every object and in the way they are arranged.

With the help of a decentralization grant awarded by the Upper Catskill Community Council on the Arts, sponsored by the Cooperstown Art Association, Gipperich has been hosting Lignum Vitae for three years. This year's celebration will be the fourth, and will feature ten artists doing site specific installations in a rolling field behind his home.

For several years, Gipperich made Shaker furniture, known for its quality and exacting, refined appearance. He combines this skill with a more flowing, rustic style, and the marriage of the two is evident in his work.

"When I'm sick of working on furniture, I turn to the sculptures," Gipperich said, gesturing to tall wooden pieces coming to life from stacks of wood. Lignum vitae is a Latin term meaning "wood of life." This philosophy is ever-present to Gipperich, who uses old barn boards and recycled lumber to provide the wood with a "second or third life."

The fourth annual celebration, called "Art is Erotic," this time around, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 28, starting at 1 p.m. A belly dancer, Diana Cozzens, will dance through the crowd. She also happens to be a painter who uses vivid colors to depict a subject. Atica, an "eclectic world beat acoustic rock band," will play in the afternoon. The Catskill Poetry Theatre will be performing a piece written specifically for the celebration.

"Since I don't live in the city, this is a way to get people in and together," Gipperich said. "The artists that live here from the city don't necessarily want to be socializing. That's not why they come here. For me, it's a way to get my fill of people and communication."

For a week before the party, artists will be on site creating installations. The public is welcome to visit Gipperich's Westville home to see them at work. An artist named Alberto Rondon will do a live performance piece the day of the party, decking out Gipperich's gray van with his specialty: graffiti.

"This is an opportunity for everybody," Gipperich said. "I'm very excited about it."

Guests are invited to bring a dish to pass. For more information call 547-9777.