Furniture

Wharton Esherick, the "Dean of American Craftsmen," fancied himself as a sculptor who worked primarily in wood. The Expressionist leanings of his early furniture and sculpture matured into softer, organic forms that still look quite modern. I love the sculpted yet functional look of his furniture, and you can pick out the influence of his aesthetic in following generations of furniture builders.

I'm a big fan of furniture that's well constructed and lets the beauty of the wood shine. And I love music (and drumming on things). If you put furniture and music together, you get the work of Tor Clausen. One part table, one part xylophone, his work is made to be played. It's a great way to introduce children to music, and more fun than a standard wooden bench or table.

We're making our Council newsletter collection from 1957-1986 accessible online.

David Hentzel, head of Build LLC's custom cabinet shop, makes high-end furniture under the SPD moniker. He works in a very modern style and uses a lot of wood veneer. The simple lines and shapes leave the beauty of the wood to speak for itself, showing the influence of one of his mentors, the venerable Sam Maloof.