June-July 2007
Robert Spangler

"Isho II Cabinet"
Made from mahogany, ebony, Bolivian Rosewood and maple.
54" x 22" x 45"

Click here to see more work by Robert Spangler.

Detail image-
Tornado Vessel
by Jerry Johnson

Evert Sodergren - May, 2007

Evert Sodergren a fourth-generatuin cabinetmaker is one of the Pacific Northwest's foremost designer craftsmen. He initially learned his craft from his Swedish father, and has been refining his skill for over 55 years.

Evert's furniture pieces are works of art combining traditional and contemporary design and construction methods. In addition, he has made an almost endless variety of items, often combining other materials with wood, such as such as his own his own handmade metal hardware. He takes particular pride in running a job shop; one that is able to solve any problem that a customer brings to him.

Many Seattle families dine daily at the tables Evert made for them or their relatives many years ago. From 1958 to 1973 Evert taught furniture making at the University of Washinton, and his work has won many awards both locally and nationally.

To see more of Evert's work click HERE.

Brad Gallahar- April, 2007

Brad Gallahar builds furniture that reflects his own life; celebrating strength and durability with out sacrificing beauty or purpose. His design aesthetic has developed out of a passion for the practicality involved in rural living. Brad leads the lifestyle of a true craftsman, working from his Whidbey Island studio while enjoying a robust life on the farm with his wife Joy and their seven children.

As a furniture designer, Brad Gallahar melds classic American heritage with Arts & Crafts influences into a useful, modern-friendly style. He designs and constructs pieces by carefully orchestrating each selection of coordinating woods. Primarily working in cherry, complimentary woods such as walnut, koa, holly, wenge and Birds-eye maple creatively provide a pleasing contrast to the warmth and fine grain of this classic American hardwood. Details are often enhanced by the meticulous pairing of veneers, focusing on the subtle play of wood grain and pattern. Brad’s work is refined yet highly durable. Each piece is finished with clear penetrating oil followed by a protective conversion varnish. This maintenance free finish yields a hand rubbed look with the convenience and durability modern technology provides.

Individually constructed solely by Brad in his studio, no detail is overlooked in the design and construction of the furniture. Because Brad is the only person working on a piece, both the technical and physical construction of the furniture is nurtured from start to finish by his careful eye.

To See more of Brad's work click HERE.

Gary Galbraith-March, 2007

A founding member of NWFW, Gary's educational background was primarily in Sculpture. He has taught at the university level in Wood Design, Ceramics and Glass forming for over 30 years.

 His primary focus is to bring the language of art to the realm of furniture and to incorporate other mediums with fine woods. His current work uses wood patterns to make ceramic molds which in turn are kiln fired for durability, and then used to slump and fuse sheet glass into high relief forms. The reliefs are typically more than one layer of glass with frit glass painting on the surface so that colors are spontaneously combined. These new pieces attempt to interact the colors and textures of the wood with the glass in compositions of abstracted nature. There is definitely an Asian influence in an Arts and Crafts sense, because of the broad calligraphic brush strokes that speak of a human hand. Much of the recent work also uses open spaces to compliment the solid form, so that their shapes and quality of light interact with the vibrant colors of the materials.

While the sketching process helps to develop a good visual idea, many secondary changes occur as the piece develops. Gary does not simply fabricate a piece from a mechanical drawing, but takes a constructionist approach. It is in this sense of creative opportunity that art furniture comes to life. Although the materials are natural, he does not seek to make the beauty of the material itself the focus of his furniture, but rather the visual language of form and color that expresses an individual’s idea. Even though the wood and glass both are purchased as  flat sheet material, he deliberately chooses to shape and form the  material into a three Dimensionsal form.

Gary's work is predominately one of a kind and not produced in editions. Previous pieces influence current ones because they are thematically connected. He enjoys the collaboration process of working with clients in order to fulfill their need to add a piece to their environment. This process begins with drawings, samples and then small models so that the idea is developed with a understanding of its parameters.

"My goal is to create works of art that are part of our living environments and offer the opportunity to directly experience them through usage" 
- Gary Galbraith