Design + Wood 2009 Review
Woodworkers' Association of NSW Inc.
Design + Wood 2009; An Exhibition of Contemporary Studio Furniture
4-16 August 2009
Depot Gallery 2 Danks Street Waterloo
Presented by the Woodworkers Association of NSW as part of Sydney Design 09 hosted by the Powerhouse Museum.
The exhibition featured exquisite studio pieces made from Australian native timbers. There was an exciting blend of contemporary conventional furniture together with sculptural pieces which were functional (Tony Kenway's dining suite); purely sculptural pieces with some resemblance to furniture (David MaClaren's Leda chair form); to the strikingly unconventional (Ottoman in cow hide with blackwood hoofs by John Madden and Angus Mc Donald ).
Nick Statham was presented with The Forests NSW Award for Design and Craftsmanship for his stunningly constructed mirror-backed Introspectre. The award was judged by Brian Parkes, Assistant Director of Object and was presented by the CEO of Forest, Nick Roberts.
John Gallagher took out The Fine Woodwork Award, presented by Felder and Indesign. The Award was judged by veteran woodworker, Leon Sadubin.
Nick Statham's Introspectre wall mounted "mirror" was the clear favourite with the public who marvelled at the intricacy of the design and construction. There were repeated hoots of "Wow!" when viewers discovered their own obscured image behind the interlocking squares of birch ply.
Other favourites with visitors were Tony Kenway's meticulously crafted Fema dining suite in huon pine; Warwick Wright's Tower of Drawers in figured Tasmanian blackwood; Richard Crosland's twin glass cabinets in Tasmanian myrtle & silver ash; and Ian Factor's wall mounted Un-plugged drawer/ shelf unit. Tracy Gumm's wine rack Flask also proved popular with multiple orders taken.
