‘Our Stories’ features work of New Hampshire furniture masters

“Our Stories” is an exhibition of about two dozen handmade cabinets, desks, tables and chairs, currently on display at the Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery, in Keene, N.H.

The exhibition, featuring work members of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters Association, opened June 5 and is scheduled to run through July 23.

“Our gallery visitors are in for an amazing experience,” gallery director Maureen Ahern says. “The furniture pieces that will be displayed are truly unique and exquisite. We are very pleased to feature the work of our state’s furniture masters and highlight the tradition of artisan furniture making,”

Participating makers include Ted Blachly of Warner, N.H.; Aurelio Bolognesi of Hardwick, Mass.; Jon Brooks of New Boston, N.H.; Greg Brown of Bedford, N.H.; John Cameron of Gloucester, Mass.; Timothy Coleman of Shelburne, Mass.; Jeffrey Cooper of Portsmouth, N.H.; Garrett Hack of Thetford Center, VT; David Lamb of Canterbury, N.H., Terry Moore of Wilmot, N.H.; Jeff Roberts of Unity, N.H.; Brian Sargent of Candia, N.H.; William Thomas of Rindge, N.H.; Thom Walsh of West Stockbridge, Mass., and Brad Wolcott of Holden, Mass.

California Handmade

The Craft in America Center of Los Angeles opened its newest exhibition, “California Handmade: State of the Arts” in June, which is scheduled to run through Jan. 16, 2016.

The exhibition, curated by the center’s director Emily Zaiden, is installed at the Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts in Alta Loma, Calif. It features sculpture, furniture, textiles, jewelry and decorative arts by more than 80 state artists.

The exhibition takes inspiration from the California Design shows originated by the Pasadena Art Museum in the 1950s that helped define the studio craft movement in America. With nearly 40 years having passed since the last of these shows, this exhibition seeks to refresh the appreciation of California artists in the 21st century, according to a statement from the center.

The planning of the exhibition began with the identification of 12 core artists; six each from Northern and Southern California. Each of these artists were asked to recommend six additional colleagues in their field. They were all asked to submit works created in the last three years.

The artists currently live and work in California and many of their works draw upon the state’s unique themes and imagery. Featured artists in the wood/furniture category include Garry Knox Bennett, John Cederquist, Reuben Foat, Matthew Hebert, Barbara Holmes, Bill Hunter, Mike Johnson, Christine Lee, Laura Mays, Yvonne Mouser, Wendy Maruyama, Brian Newell, Christy Oates, Darrick Rasmussen and David Wiseman.

Contacts:

New Hampshire Furniture Masters Association, P.O. Box 5733, Manchester, NH 03108. Tel: 603-898-0242. www.furnituremasters.org

The Craft in America Center, 8415 W. Third St., Los Angeles, CA 90048. Tel: 323-951-0610. www.craftinamerica.org

This article originally appeared in the July 2015 issue.