By Brian Caldwell
STAFF WRITER
The Western Design Conference, hosted by Western Interiors and Design magazine, is considered by many as the preeminent exhibition of Western design in the world. The annual event brings together furniture makers, craftspeople, scholars, collectors, interior designers, architects and fashion designers with an interest in the West.
The 2006 conference was held in Cody, Wyo., Sept. 20 to 23, and by all accounts was a huge success. The conference is held in conjunction with the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale and the Buffalo Bill Historical Center’s Patrons Ball. Long considered an outstanding museum for the study of the American West, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center includes five museums: The Whitney Gallery of Western Art, The Buffalo Bill Museum, The Plains Indian Museum, The Cody Firearms Museum and The Draper Museum of Natural History.
Cody residents Rona and Jean Shanor, owners of Wildewood Furniture in Cody, won Best of Show this year for their “Crooked Creek Love Seat and Ottoman.” The piece was made with snow-bent fir, maple burl and chenille fabric.
“I thought the show went pretty well,” said Ron Shanor. “We had some fairly nice weather and quite a few people came through. It was a really good show; everything was fantastic. Our piece is about 50" tall and it was sold at the show. It’s nice to see the [Best of Show award] come back to Cody.”
Other award winners included:
Best Artist, Woodworking: Brad Sells, Bark Studio, Cookeville, Tenn.
People’s Choice: Scott Morrison Fine Woodworker, Columbus, Mont.
Exhibitors’ Choice: Al Hone, Kade Hone and Kalib Hone.
Switchback Ranch Purchase Award: Mike and Jo Roths, Bear Paw Custom Woodworks, Stevens-ville, Mont.
Ron and Jean Shanor of Wiildewood Furniiture iin Cody,, Wyo.., won Best of Show at the Western Desiign Conference for theiir “Crooked Creek Love Seat and Ottoman.”
What happens when 29 stellar examples of historic Chinese furniture are viewed by 22 studio furniture makers? The exhibition, “Inspired by China: Contem-
porary Furniture Makers Explore Chinese Traditions,” runs through March 4 at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass. A traveling exhibition will open at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Nov. 30, 2007, and run through March 31, 2008.
The exhibition was created to display traditional Chinese furniture with new works by 22 studio furniture makers from the United States, Canada and China.
In China artists trained in sculpture, design and traditional furniture making are now also creating one-of-a-kind pieces of contemporary furniture. The Chinese artists selected for the exhibition work outside of traditional apprenticeships, and share a common interest with their North American counterparts in connecting concept, materials and technique. They also share an
PHOTOS: ELIJAH COBB (TOP); DENNIS HELMAR ( 2)
(From left) “Alter Altar Table,” from Clifton Monteith of Lake Ann, Mich., will be on display at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass., as part of the exhibition, “Inspired by China: Contemporary Furniture Makers Explore Chinese Traditions;” “Cicada Cabinet” is a 2006 piece from Brian Newell, made of zitan, an extremely dense and rare wood found in India, China and parts of Southeast Asia.
interest in working with historic materials. The exhibition curators considered it important to bring them together — to offer an opportunity for creative and professional interaction, according to the museum.
The new work was inspired by Chinese pieces representing distinct styles of vernacular furniture, more elaborate Ming furniture, and other pieces drawn from private collections and the museum’s own holdings.
In choosing an international group of furniture makers, curators Nancy Berliner and Ned Cooke opted for mature artists with track records for producing consistently strong works.
Participating artists include Ai Weiwei of Beijing; Garry Knox Bennett of Oakland, Calif.; Bonnie Bishoff of Rockport, Maine; Yeung Chan of Millbrae, Calif.; Michael Cullen of Petaluma, Calif.; John Dunnigan of West Kingston, R.I.; Hank Gilpin of Lincoln, R.I.; Tom Hucker of Jersey City, N.J.; Michael Hurwitz of Philadelphia; Silas Kopf of Northampton, Mass.; Wendy Maruyama of San Diego; Judy McKie of Cambridge, Mass.; Clifton Monteith of Lake Ann, Mich.; Brian Newell of Atsugi, Japan; Gordon Peteran of Toronto; Richard Prisco of Savannah, Ga.; Michael Puryear of Shokan, N.Y.; Shao Fan of Beijing; Shi Jian-min of Beijing; and Joe Tracy of Mount Desert, Maine.
Peabody Essex Museum, East India Sq., Salem, MA 01970-3783. Tel: 866-745-1876. www.pem.org
Western Design Conference, 70 S. Willow Lane, P.O. Box 2979, Jackson Hole, WY 83001. Tel: 888- 685-0574. www.westerndesignconference
n Gallery announcements of exhibitions, with photos or slides, should be sent to: Brian Caldwell, Woodshop News, 10 Bokum Rd., Essex, CT 06426.
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