What defines studio furniture?  Furniture designs that convey artistic concepts, supreme craftsmanship and true individuality. NWFW presents The Maker's Mark, a showcase of new studio furniture designs inviting each participant to discuss the "finger prints" or key elements in his or her work.  

Opening Thursday October 1st, in conjunction with Pioneer Square's Artwalk festivities, gallery visitors will learn about the personal journey in the design-build process from each maker's evaluation of his or her design.  

Saturdays & Sundays in October, come meet the studio furniture artist's between 12-3pm at Northwest Fine Woodworking to discuss their show designs, career paths or your custom furniture ideas!

Judith Ames

These sassy birds keep an eye on us, tilt their heads, are always paying attention. They are clever, pesky thieves and I love them for their immediacy.

This is the first piece using the process of carving through layers of veneer to reveal an image. I imagine there will be more and look forward to seeing the next permutations. The carving pattern takes on a life of its own but was inspired by my Wave Bookcase and also came from

enjoying how potters carve through clay colors.

Curtis Erpelding

"Genuflection"
Coffee Table

Cherry, Wenge, King Marine Board
24" wide, 36" long, 16" high.

This piece incorporates elements, both technical and creative, from my work in general. The use of veneer, bent laminated parts, and non-traditional material (marine board plastic for the base plinth), all illustrate technique that I've employed in the past. Patterned veneer design helps tie the piece together, both visually and conceptually by telegraphing the plinth design (and color) through to the top and by delineating the geometric focal point locations of the elliptical shape.

Enrico Konig

Hall Table in Quilted Western M aple

I'm always looking for ways to undermine the hegemony, in the furniture world, of 4 legs at 4 corners. Hence I've often turned to the arch. I'm also attracted to curved shapes, both for the technical difficulties they present in the shop, and for their aesthetic appeal.

At the same time I'm very keen on keeping forms as clean and minimalist as possible. Curved and spatially engaging but uncluttered. Trying to use patterns created by bookmatching veneers to emphasize shape. And a splash of red to attract a bit of attention.

Aaron Levine

This highly decorative table embodies some of the ideas I have been exploring some of which include pattern and the intersection or marriage of mechanical or engineered structure and that of organically evolved form.

Brad Gallahar

Rocker

With this piece I set out to build a rocking chair that would compliment some of my existing Craftsman designs, such as the Mission desk , bookcase, and the Bow Arm chair. Unlike many rocking chairs, this rocker is relatively compact, yet still very comfortable. The back splat gives good support, its shape is based on previous chair designs that work well for lower back support. Although Craftsman in design, the simple yet elegant lines of this rocker make it an attractive addition to any setting.

David Gray

Indian Head Desk

This design was inspired by two gorgeous pieces of Oregon Walnut.

A trademark of my furniture design is the use of highly figured, contrasting woods, and exposed joinery. I love to challenge visual expectations, using elements of the recognizable mixed with something unexpected. This new piece is an expression of these elements.

Hank Holzer

Madrona Bench

This bench was built with the concept of "working with nature".  Madrona wood, when freshly cut and dried quickly tends to twist and warp wildly.  While unfortunate for the sawyer, I found it a great benefit in this piece of wood, saved from the scrap heap of difficult to use material.  Leaving all the natural shapes from the warping, enhancing the mill marks underneath and polishing the top contours, I then added the top joinery along Mother Nature's contortions to create the textural qualities of this piece

Rich Soborowicz

Form + function = balance. Form, in the wavy natural 'live' edge of the table is balanced with the asymmetrical straight lines found in the base. Function in the butterfly keys that are holding the two pieces together, and the side key of 'live' edge ebony is holding the pieces on the same plane.

You can classify me as a 'repeater'. I hope you enjoy exploring all my work looking how I repeat elements in the design to achieve the desirable form that is in balance.

Bob Spangler

Simplify, Simplify. Easier said than done. That is what I have tried to achieve in this Florian set, yet retain the sophistication of a finely made heirloom.

The Florian chairs use a single piece repeated 5 times to create a complex form that then makes up both the back and the seat. The two working together form the basic and very comfortable structure of the chair.

The Florian table is a redesign, taking the best of two prior designs and combining them to evolve a table into a third generation. Combining the best of both has come to this elegant and "simple" design.

This project is another interpretive piece based on the work of Greene & Greene.

When I started my woodworking career I was a big fan of the super flamboyant woods, boards that were so beautiful that design was secondary. While quartered Mahogany is a very beautiful and elegant wood, it is understated compared to Quilted Maple, Brazilian Rosewood or Bubinga. Using an understated wood asks for a little more detail and refinement in the design. Texture, shadow, relief and proportion take on greater importance. This project continues my pursuit of strong horizontal and vertical elements with large proportional overhangs.

John Thoe

For me the chair is the most enjoyable furniture piece to make. It offers the maker a chance to build a sculpture that can be seen at all angles. I designed bar stools a couple of years ago to coordinate with my chair designs. I realized they were proto types and I needed to refine them. I've changed the angles at which the rear legs attached to the seat and also the angles where wood was removed from each leg. The Sam Maloof joint was redefined and I've "pillowed" the arm rests and crest rail. The material has slimmed down from 3" to 2 ½" stock for the legs.

Stewart Wurtz

Sycamore Coffee Table
Live edge sycamore, blackened steel
40.5" X 54" X 18"h

The Sycamore Coffee Table was inspired by my desire to work in a more sculptural direction. The marriage of the materials, wood and steel, has been a current theme in my work.

By combining these elements together, they are stronger and sing more than if left on their own. The blackened steel brings out the beauty of the sycamore's figure and spalting and adds visual strength to this minimal form.