Want to find out how the Arts & Crafts movement inspires craftsmanship today? Join us on October 15 when Master Craftsman Peter Maynard will present “Blazing New Trails: Discovering Pathways to New Arts & Crafts Horizons Through the Eyes of a Master Furniture Maker” as part of our Forging Ahead Forum.
For 35 years Peter Maynard of Cold River Furniture has been custom designing and building fine handcrafted furniture for clients nationwide. His complete line of Arts and Crafts furniture seeks to create an indelible American style inspired by the vast North American landscape. He has been commissioned by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and his furniture has been featured in The New York Times, Architectural Digest, and American Bungalow. Traditional Home magazine named Peter one of the five best contemporary American furniture makers. He resides with his family in rural New Hampshire.
The Forging Ahead Forum is a full-day symposium taking place as part of Catch the Spark Weekend. Much more top come on these exciting events in the weeks ahead!
A metalworking demonstration by Michael Adams and Dawn Hopkins of Aurora Studios is the latest addition to Catch the Spark weekend on October 15 and 16. Michael is one of the most highly regarded craftsmen in the field and among the first contemporary artisans to incorporate the Arts and Crafts ideals into his work. He created his first Arts and Crafts inspired lamp in 1974. Dawn has a BFA in printmaking, but embraced coppersmithing after she met Michael in 1991. Her attention to detail and critical eye helped bring the craftsmanship at the studio to a higher level. Together they have enjoyed creating handcrafted lighting and architectural metalwork for over two decades.
Michael and Dawn’s demonstration will take place between 12:30 and 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, during the Catch the Spark Open House. Catch the Spark Weekend is the two-day grand finale to Craftsman Farms Centennial Year.
More on other Catch the Spark events later!
Some of the beautiful pieces produced by Aurora Studios
Since our transition to the new website, we’ve been faced with a number of technical glitches that blocked us from posting to our blog page. We’re thrilled to say that the problems appear to be solved! You can expect news and updates to begin appearing regularly this week.
The first families moved into Mountain Lakes in 1911, just as the Stickley’s were moving into the Log House. We enjoyed participating in their Centennial kick-off last week, and, in honor of our shared centennials, we have invited residents to participate in a special Mountain Lakes Day at Craftsman Farms on Sunday, February 6.
Families and neighbors gathered at snow covered Briarcliff Park and the Community Church and enjoyed activities reminiscent of the kinds of outdoor winter fun that the early pioneers of the Borough enjoyed back in 1911 at its founding. Old-fashioned children’s games from Craftsman Farms, a horse-drawn hayride, a birthday cake baking contest, socializing with neighbors around a warm fire while listening to the vocal harmonies of the barbershop quartet “Steppin’ Out!” were just some of the activities that Lakers enjoyed. There were even some who braved the 20 degree weather and were ice-skating. For photos from the event, click on the slideshow.
We were so pleased to see a Craftsman Farms fireplaces as Gozaic’s photo of the week:
The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms is more than just a showcase to the extraordinary work of Gustav Stickley. It is a representation of his dream for a better tomorrow. He wanted Craftsman Farms to help establish a higher American ideal by offering the chance for children to be educated to create art with their hands. Today, experience a piece of his dream by journeying to Stickley’s former home.
More than 100 years ago, Gustav Stickley began creating well-made wood furniture with a simplicity of design. The creation of a brand soon followed, with Stickley offering everything from candlesticks and linens to a magazine that included home plans in his Craftsman style.
The first national touring exhibit to give a comprehensive look at Stickley’s work opened this week at the Newark Museum in New Jersey, with the majority of pieces on display coming from private collections.
The show features more than 100 works, including furniture, metalwork, textiles and architectural drawings. It goes to the Dallas Museum of Art on Feb. 13 and then to the San Diego Museum of Art on June 18.
Our Detective Tours, special investigative tours of the Log House at Craftsman Farms, are being offered on Wednesday afternoons through August 25, from 1:00 – 2:15 pm. This tour, for children aged 6-9 accompanied by an adult, is a great way to introduce children to Craftsman Farms. Using photo clues and flashlights, the tour explores life in the Log House when the Stickley family was in residence 100 years ago. No registration is necessary. Just drop by with your young detective, and our guides will lead the investigation.
