The Furniture Makers of Cook County exhibit will be at the Johnson Heritage Post until May 23. Don’t miss this wonderful woodworking show. Above: Stephan Holz has an elegant rocking chair in the exhibit, as well as this sturdy chair graced with a beautiful ladyslipper. Above right: One of the exhibit’s most unique pieces of furniture is this swinging camp chair made by Mark Hansen. Hovland watercolor artist Neil Sherman checks out this art he can sit on. Right: Simply beautiful is the only way to describe this unpretentious table and lamp duo made by David Prinsen.
That phrase was echoed numerous times at the opening of the Furniture Makers of
Cook County
exhibit at Johnson Heritage Post on Friday, April 9. Gallery visitors could hardly bring themselves to use the beautiful furniture on display.
However, the furniture makers encouraged people to touch, to open doors and drawers, and to sit on their works of art. Sharing their handiwork were Steve Asche, Dean Einwalter, Mark Hansen, Stephen Holz, Paul McFarlane, Keith Morris, David Prinsen, and Randy Schnobrich, each exhibiting several pieces of furniture.
Perhaps most unique is Mark Hansen’s rugged camp furniture—a heavy canvas tent and a swinging cloth chair, accented with a tanned leather throw.
However every piece on exhibit has its own distinctive style. Keith Morris amused his audience with a wood and glass coffee table adorned with an otter. His other offering is an interesting birch-like chair— with a beaver chomping its legs.
David Prinsen shows great diversity with a bright red chair created using an analine dye and a more traditional rocker and end table pairing. Theclean lines of the end table are echoed in an interesting rock and wood lamp.
Stephan Holz’s rocking chair especially tantalized visitors— its fluid shape looked too artistic to be comfortable. However, everyone who took a seat relaxed with a smile of delight.
A mission style hall bench made by Paul McFarlane was a hit with visitors, who again wondered if they could sit on the elegant piece of furniture. McFarlane also had a beautiful candle box, a mission-style blanket chest, and a shaker-style sofa/hall table, all polished to a shine, highlighting the personality of the wood.
Randy Schnobrich too, brought out the unique quality of the wood he uses on his birch wall cabinet and cabinet and bench.
Steve Asche shared a side table with seamless corners and recessed side panels. The perfect place to rest a portfolio of photos of his other artistic pieces.
Dean Einwalter of Fox Lair Woodworking had one-ofa kind works crafted out of battered barn wood—a jelly cabinet and similar smaller pieces, a sturdy bookcase, and a rustic table and chair.
The exhibit runs until May 23 and the gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1 – 4:00 p.m. Stop and sit for awhile.
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