East Tennessee Woodworker's Guild at the Emporium

Adult-sized Rocking Horse, Emporium, November 2011

I hate that this show has ended before I could write a blog and encourage everyone to come out and see it. First Friday at the Emporium I was lucky enough to witness a wonderful display of woodworking which was at turns contemporary, historical, serious and whimsical.


Tortoise and the Hare? Woodcarving, Emporium, Knoxville, November 2011



A perfectly fine roach for a coffee table

 Thirty-five craftspeople from the East Tennessee Woodworkers' Guild had work represented at the Emporium. Unfortunately, it was for a three day run, not the normal month-long exhibition, so it's too late for you to visit. I didn't do my best blogger diligence and document who constructed each piece, so if you see something you like, you'll just have to follow the link above and ask them about it.



Demonstrating wood-working technique



Explaining the process



The crowd at the Emporium, First Friday November 2011

The furniture was finely crafted, of course, and generally far beyond anything I'd ever be able to afford with prices in the thousands pretty common. Still, it makes me feel good to know in the middle of our iPad world, there are still people practicing woodworking crafts that are hundreds of years old. One of the members of the guild was on hand to demonstrate.


Beautiful Chairs, Emporium, Knoxville, November 2011



High seat chair, Emporium, November 2011

 

Cane-bottomed Chair, East Tennessee Woodworkers' Guild

Much of the furniture looked like replicas of eighteenth or nineteenth century work, while other pieces might have been inspired by Alices' Adventures in Wonderland. An adult-sized rocking horse was prominently displayed near the entrance as was a rabbit on the back of a turtle.

Kitchen Table with beautiful inlaid wood.

Coffee Table in multiple pieces and levels.

Some of the furniture was, by comparison, simple, while some of it must have been very difficult to make with inlays and curved contours. The stains and the grains of the wood were beautiful. I think that of the furniture, I liked the round table and curved chest the best, though I very much liked the coffee table.


"Monks Making Wine" by Robert Lowery



"Sharing" by Robert Lowery

 The one artist whose name I did catch was Robert Lowery whose inlaid wood portraits were exquisite. I liked the "Monks Making Wine" the best. The other work pictured here was listed for $1595, just to give you an idea on the price point.


Hand-made Curved Cabinet

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Unusually shaped Handmade Chest, Emporium, Knoxville, November 2011