September 25, 2015 – January 6, 2016

“Contemporary Wood Design,” a national exhibition showcasing a new generation of furniture makers, opened at the Messler Gallery of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport on Friday, September 25, 2015.

“Every generation brings fresh perspectives to the fabrication of the shared world,” says Center director Peter Korn. “The aesthetics, materials, methods of production, and intended audiences in “Contemporary Wood Design” reveal a greater sense of social connection and an engagement with commerce that would have been foreign to most craftspeople of my era.”

The exhibition was co-curated by Diana Budds, formerly senior editor at Dwell, and Asher Dunn, founder of StudioDunn in Providence, RI. A young furniture designer himself, Dunn notes that success today requires an arsenal of skills in addition to craftsmanship. “You have to stay on top of continually changing disciplines and trends in design, entrepreneurship, marketing, sales, and much more.”

Designers represented in “Contemporary Wood Design” include: Asher Israelow (Brooklyn, NY), Chelsea Miller Knives (Brooklyn, NY), Christopher Specce (Providence, RI), Egg Collective (New York, NY), Fort Makers – designer Noah James Spencer (Brooklyn, NY), Fredericks & Mae (Brooklyn, NY), Grain Design (Bainbridge Island, WA), Heidi Earnshaw Design (Toronto, ON), Herman Miller – designer Leon Ransmeier (Zeeland, MI), Ian Stell (New York, NY), Jason Miller Studio (Brooklyn, NY), Michael Robbins (Germantown, NY), Moving Mountains (Brooklyn, NY), Pat Kim Designs (Brooklyn, NY), Phloem Studio (Portland, OR), Silvia Song (Berkeley, CA), Studio McKenzie-Veal (Chicago, IL), Such and Such (Cincinnati, OH), Vonnegut/Kraft (Brooklyn, NY), Woodsport (Minneapolis, MN), and Workstead (Brooklyn, NY).

Chelsea Miller Knives|Brooklyn, NY. Chef Knife, 2015. Antique horse rasp, spalted maple, brass pins. $800. 2" x 12" x 2".

Chelsea Miller

Christopher Specce|Providence, RI. Windsor Settee, 2011. Poplar, maple, ash, lacquer finish. $10,000. 43" x 87" x 23".

Christopher Specce

Egg Collective|New York, NY. Wu Side Table, 2014. Limited edition box elder, waxed. $4,080. 18.5" x 14.5".

Egg Collective

Fort Makers - Noah James Spencer|Brooklyn, NY. Medium A Apple Mobile, 2014. Apple wood, oil finish. $250. 24" x 14" x 3/8".

Fort Makers – Noah James Spencer

Fredericks and Mae|Brooklyn, NY. Hoop Brushes, 2015. Maple and horse hair. $64-$124 each. 4" x 10" dia.

Fredericks and Mae

Grain|Bainbridge Island, WA. Dish Coffee Table, 2013. FSC certified ash, OSMO oil. $2,500. 16" x 32" dia.

Grain

Heidi Earnshaw Design|Toronto, ON. Windsor Bench, 2015. Black walnut, iron oxide, hardwax oil. $2,600. 16.5" x 78" x 15".

Heidi Earnshaw Design

Herman Miller Collection/Designer Leon Ransmeier for Mattiazzi|New York, NY. Chiaro Chair, 2014. Natural waxed oak. $929. 32.25" x 22.5" x 19.5".

Herman Miller Collection/Designer Leon Ransmeier for Mattiazzi

Ian Stell|New York, NY. Sinan, 2014. Maple, brass pivots, oil/wax finish (Osmo). $4,500. Variable, 16” x 32” x 26” when hexagonal.

Ian Stell

Ian Stell|New York, NY. Sinan, 2014. Maple, brass pivots, oil/wax finish (Osmo). $4,500. Variable, 16” x 32” x 26” when hexagonal.

Ian Stell

Jason Miller Studio|Brooklyn, NY. Woody Endless Light, 2011. Aluminum, acrylic, stained oak. $4,800. 56" x 6" dia.

Jason Miller Studio

Jason Miller Studio|Brooklyn, NY. Woody Endless Light, 2011. Aluminum, acrylic, stained oak. $4,800. 56" x 6" dia.

Jason Miller Studio

Michael Robbins|Germantown, NY. Bridle Bench, 2014. White oak, bridle leather, brass arch, copper. $2,200. 18.5" x 60" x 16".

Michael Robbins

Michael Robbins|Germantown, NY. Bridle Bench, 2014. White oak, bridle leather, brass arch, copper. $2,200. 18.5" x 60" x 16".

Michael Robbins

Moving Mountains|Brooklyn, NY. Windsor Lounge Chair, 2014. Oak, pine, maple, black lacquer finish. $5,500. 40" x 29" x 30".

Moving Mountains

Pat Kim Designs|Brooklyn, NY. Zig Zag Trivet Set, 2014. Maple, walnut, ebonized walnut, mineral oil. $48. 3/4" x 6.5" dia..

Pat Kim Designs

Phloem Studio|Portland, OR. Peninsula Chair, 2015. Walnut, leather, brass, oil finish. $2,900. 29" x 27" x 25".

Phloem Studio

Studio McKenzie-Veal|Chicago, IL. Method Bowls, 2012. Pickled walnut, maple, cherry, polyacrylic. $270 each. 2" x 12" x 12".

Studio McKenzie-Veal

Studio McKenzie-Veal|Chicago, IL. Mini Method Bowls, 2012. Pickled walnut, maple, cherry, polyacrylic. $120 each. 2" x 4" x 4".

Studio McKenzie-Veal

Such + Such|Cincinnati, OH. Block Clocks, 2011. Maple, clock movement, oil/wax. $149 or $99. 6" x 12" or 6" x 6".

Such + Such

Vonnegut/Kraft|Brooklyn, NY. Crescent Lounge, 2015. Walnut, wool upholstery, lacquer finish. $8,200. 18" x 80" x 40.5".

Vonnegut/Kraft

Vonnegut/Kraft|Brooklyn, NY. Crescent Lounge, 2015. Walnut, wool upholstery, lacquer finish. $8,200. 18" x 80" x 40.5".

Vonnegut/Kraft

Woodsport|Minneapolis, MN. Eden Lamp, 2012. Walnut, ash, lacquer, linen shade. $2,200. 26" x 15" dia.

Woodsport

Workstead|Brooklyn, NY. Cherry Sling Chair, 2014. Cherry, leather, Danish oil finish. $2,950. 24" x 31" x 36".

Workstead