By the late 1970’s there was a craft renaissance underway in the United States, Britain, and Australia. In the U.S. individuals like Tage Frid and Wendell Castle had actually been teaching furnishings making at the university level and ending up skilled trainees because the 1960’s. Academically trained designer/craftsmen would birth the Studio Furnishings Motion and would utilize their abilities to develop brand-new, amazing, and ingenious work. In 1975 the Program In Artisanry at Boston University would open to promote the mentor of great craft consisting of furnishings making.

With the publication of A Cabinetmaker’s Note pad and The Art Of Cabinetmaking in 1977 an unknown furnishings maker called James Krenov would get a worldwide following practically over night. In a poetic voice he required a thoughtful, meditative, yet enthusiastic technique to furnishings making and silently glorified the course of the artisan.

At a more grassroots level, lots of, including myself, were seduced by energy of the times. Among the mantras of the day was, “Do what you enjoy and the cash will come”, so I stopped my day task, and with a couple of shoddy tools and no understanding, started marketing myself as a furnishings maker. I worked out of a small removed garage in my yard. I was doing what I liked however the cash did not come. My young other half, the mom of our 4 years of age child, was not pleased.

In 1981 the Pritam and Eames Gallery opened in East Hampton, New york city to represent the work of a few of the most acknowledged furnishings makers in the nation. Studio furnishings would be promoted like art. Purchasers would be more than purchasers, They would end up being collectors. Because very same year, James Krenov began his furnishings making program at College Of The Redwoods in Fort Bragg, California and started ending up disciples in his own image.

Thirty 6 years later on there are lots of furnishings making books and DVD’s readily available and countless furnishings making videos on YouTube. There are costly schools now where one can opt for 2 years and get an accreditation or take a one week course and discover how to make a rocking chair.

One would believe a furnishings maker might be discovered on every city block plying his/her trade. Strangely, that is not the case. From my minimal viewpoint I believe there might be less people now than there were a couple of years earlier. I hope I am incorrect however I fear for the future of my craft. It’s an enhancing pastime however such an obstacle to earn a living at it. Exists any hope? I have some ideas and they are coming.

Please visit my site to see more of my work.

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