Gallery Tour of the 2011 Mid-Winter Exhibition

Photos from the 2011 Mid-Winter Exhibition are up! I'm also posting some nice photos David Welter, shop keeper and photographer extraordinaire, took of my cabinet. I promise these will be the last cabinet photos I post. Promise.

The Paparazzi (AKA my parents) Come to Town

My parents visited Fort Bragg over the weekend for the show. Fortunately for us, my normally impatient father had just bought a new camera, which kept him occupied for hours and hours and hundreds upon hundreds of photos. In good dad form, he couldn't stop taking pictures of me, even doing the most mundane things like sweeping the shop, talking to friends or climbing up a sand dune. The upside is the number of nice photos I have to show for it.

The reception had great turn-out, and it was fun to share our work with friends, family and the community. The gallery was so packed that  it was hard to appreciate the pieces, but that wasn't a problem for my parents because we had already visited the show twice. It's nice to have such supportive parents. 

Here are a few highlights from the weekend. 

The Shop

Fort Bragg at Dusk

Glass Beach

Glass Beach

Guest House Museum

The Reception

My Big Backyard

Piece of Wood for a Bowl

Noyo Harbor

The Slam / After Party

Friday was the opening of our first show. My classmates and I have worked to exacting standards on our pieces over the last few months, and welcomed the much-needed relief of finishing our projects, presenting them at the slam (in 5 minutes or less), and then celebrating our hard work. One of the highlights of the evening was the cathartic release that came with throwing our mock-ups into a large bonfire. Here are a few photos and video from the evening. Enjoy! I know we did...

Christian presents his piece

Trying out Brett's chairs

One of my favorite pieces -- Miss Peaches

Me and Candice's Katana Bench

Jonathan's mustache became synonymous with his piece

Burn, mock-ups, burn!

The school logo, illuminated by firelight

Tomorrow is the Day

The show is just one week away, and pressure is mounting in the shop to finish projects and prepare for the exhibition and reception. Barring any major catastrophes, I should finish my cabinet tomorrow morning. All I have left to do is install the brass hangers that will attach the cabinet to the wall and mount the door. 

The last few steps in the furniture making process often prove to be the most difficult. I struggled the last couple weeks with the small details, like drawer pulls and the necklace hanger, that can enhance or detract from a piece. The last hurdle that I overcame was the necklace hanger. I knew I wanted to mount it to the back panel to hang five or so necklaces, but I had a really hard time finding a pretty shape that didn't look too rustic or like a towel bar. I also disliked the pegs and hooks I shaped. It was challenging to balance utility with beauty. With my instructors' help, I finally settled on an elegant solution. (More on that tomorrow!)

Making the brass cabinet hangers was a fun diversion from woodworking because working metal is very different than working wood. Wood is organic and unpredictable, whereas brass is completely malleable. Metal does what you ask it to.

Below are pictures of the cabinet hangers and the drawers with their hand-carved pulls and pigskin lining. Check back tomorrow for photos of the necklace hanger and finished cabinet!

You Could Win This Cherry Bench!

Trystan, one of my classmates, has put this beautiful cherry trestle bench into the raffle that will happen at the 22nd Annual Mid-Winter Fine Furniture Exhibition. Tickets are $10. The raffle proceeds offset the cost of the show. This is your opportunity to do something good for the school and possibly win an incredible piece of furniture. Join us at the reception to purchase a ticket!

Mid-Winter Exhibition

Our first show is less than three weeks away! If you're in the area, stop by Town Hall to see some amazing furniture and learn more about College of the Redwoods Fine Furniture Program. And if you're not in the area, consider making a trip up for the reception on February 4. Check back tomorrow for a sneak preview of four additional pieces that students have completed.