Dawn Quinn of the Tacoma Weekly gave Fluidity of form good marks in a recent review. Check it out!
Welcome
Madera Fine Decorative Furnishings is where your ideas become a reality. Our founder Carlos Taylor-Swanson has 25 years experience building objects of lasting beauty and utility. From high-end cabinetry to yacht interiors to fine custom furniture, Taylor-Swanson has the creative vision and technical know-how to complete your project. Explore our website, get to know our work, and give us a call or email. We look forward to working with you.
Madera Fine Decorative Furnishings is also the home of Gallery Madera a fine art and furniture gallery. Find out more on our gallery page and below in our What’s Happening blog!
What’s Happening…
…in the gallery — Fluidity of Form opens 6.13
As we flow into summer we are pleased to present Fluidity of Form, an exhibition featuring paintings by Kelsey Parkhurst and sculpture by Heather Cornelius. Both Tacoma based artists produce work rooted in subjective interpretations of form - their objects ripple and flow to vibrant, inner rhythms.
Over 2 years ago I came across one of Parkhurst’s post cards. I was taken by the images and set the card on a ledge behind my monitor, where it has sat since then. This past February, Cornelius posted on the Tacoma Arts list-serve about ceramic classeses she was offering. I checked out her website and was blown-away. She has created some incredibly powerful sculptures. Then I happened a glance at Parkhurst’s card and the muse of inspiration shot me right between the eyes. Their works would be very complimentary - it something about how their forms have shifted and have become, well…fluid. Though Kelsey’s work is rather bright and simple in appearance, her style and approach to painting the mundane in an attempt to giving it (and our lives) more meaning gives them depth. It balances perfectly with Cornelius’ work which is varied from quirky and fun to grotesque and intense. Together the viewer gets the full blown emotive experience of life in Fluidity of Form.
Please join us for an artists’ reception Saturday June 13 from 5:00 - 8:00
Fluidity of Form runs until July 25.
…in the shop — Madera is now a certified installer for Richlite!
We had been seeking a durable counter top material that we could offer our clients. With my limited experience working with solid surface materials (like Corian) I was sure they were best left to those who specialize in them. And of course stone was also best left to the pros! I have known about Richlite for many years but recently learned more about the expansion of their colors and their environmental commitment. After a bit more research it became clear that Richlite was to be the perfect solution for a high quality product with great design potential and it’s local! Then to seal the deal, a certification class was scheduled that I could actually attend.
So what is Richlite? It is essentially a rock hard laminated paper product. Only FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified papers are used as well as recycled papers and cardboard, too. These papers are saturated with a phenolic resin and the pressed - under extreme pressure - into sheets of various thicknesses. Richlite has been used industrially and commercially for over 30 years. Recently architects and designers have begun to appreciate Richlite for its versatility, durability and environmental attributes. The material has a natural appeal and matte finish that complement a variety of architectural styles.
Check out the Richlite website
for information about their efficient manufacturing process and color palette. We have samples here in the shop. Soon we will have some example pieces in the gallery!
Presenting Recovery April 16 - June 6
Gallery Madera’s newest exhibition, Recovery, will feature one of our own. Steve Lawler, skilled woodworker and member of the Madera woodworking family will be showcasing his many talents in the gallery.
Lawler’s exhibition will include much of his Eco-friendly aptly named “re-Furniture”; functional pieces made from reclaimed fir and scrap plywood collected from local cabinet and furniture shops.
Lawler’s green thinking shines through his furniture design and transcends into his provocative found art sculpture and mixed media collage. Lawler’s use of discarded materials to create innovative, functional, and beautiful pieces is a truly wonderful example of what it means to be green. Lawler states on his website, “My work represents my passion for two things: First, reusing what others have found to be useless and second, creating something in a way that nobody has thought of before.”
Steve Lawler started to work with wood as a child in his grandfather’s woodshop. As time went on, working with wood would take a back seat to other creative pursuits such as photography, painting and collage. While living in Mexico, Lawler’s desire for a new creative outlet lead him to pursue painting; the surrounding landscape and local people first inspired, then became his subject. He produced many pieces that have been exhibited in various galleries in Virginia, California, Washington and Mexico.
We are pleased to present Lawler’s full protean gammut - paintings, sculpture, photography and furniture. All of his work is representative of his passion for reusing what others have found useless and creating something new and beautiful from it.
A Path of Flame - 09
Once again we are pleased to be hosting a comprehensive look into Northwest contemporary woodfired ceramics - A Path of Flame. This years show features 14 regional artists dedicated to this amazing tradition.
Participating artists -
John Benn - Eva Funderburgh - Colleen Gallagher - John Harris - Sam Hoffman - Terry Inokuma - Chris Knapp - Jen Lee - Andy Lewis-Lechner - Susan Lochner - Hiroshi Ogawa - Reid Ozaki - Erin Solberg - Natalie Warrens
Kilns represented -
Hikarigama - “Illuminated Kiln” (Elkton, OR)
Santatsugama - 3 Dragons Kiln (Seabeck, WA)
Harstine Island Wood Kilns (WA)
Also featuring paintings by
Kirsten Gehrels (acrylic on canvas) and Amy Royce (encaustic on panel)
You can find more images from A Path of Flame - 09 as well as archived pictures from last year’s exhibition on our Gallery Page!
Join us for a reception for the artists Saturday February 21 from 3:00 - 8:00.
The Path - “of flame carries the wood ash over the pieces creating unique colors and textures on what was originally an unglazed surface, a blank canvas and which is literally being painted with fire…The surrender of ego, letting go of control and expectations, and living in the moment are the challenges and beauty of wood firing. It is a very rich, creative and spiritual journey…” Natalie Warrens (participating artist)
Artist Eva Funderburgh has an extensive catalog of images on Flicker and Vimeo. Of special note are slideshows and videos of Anagama kiln loading and unloading. The process is amazing! A kiln loading often can take two days. Though the unloading is faster it still takes several hours. These photos were all taken at the Santatsugama Kiln in Seabeck Washington.
Now Showing - “Low Maintainance”
Gallery Madera is pleased to present!
Low Maintenance
Through Feb 14th
Featuring the artwork of Diane Roberts (Fused Glass), Joey Freer (Paintings), Anne Reilly (Clay Sculptures), Angel Matamoros (Paintings), Chris Wooten (Wire Sculptures), Jefferson Elliott (Drawings & Paintings), Ted Bartholomew(Wood Turning).
We’ve posted a few more images from Low Maintenance on our gallery page.
-Also-
SAVE THE DATE:
A Path of Flame opens Saturday February 21. This year’s show of new work by 12 Northwest wood fired ceramic artists and two painters promises to be outstanding. Check back for more updates!
re-ART ‘08 opening - a smash!
We had a fantastic turn out for our artists’ reception celebrating the opening of re-ART ‘08! A million thanks to the artists who were able to attend - this show could not have happened without your fantastic contributions. Without a doubt, the over all consensus was positively outstanding when it came to the quality of the work. We received rave comments about the variety of creative uses for the recycled materials and about how fun the overall show is.
We owe a ton of gratitude to Paul Blanchard, Washington-Hoyt Elementary and Ms. Seberson and her 2008 3rd graders for allowing us to use “Trashing America” for our publicity. It perfectly sums up everything this how is about. And with the accompanying video (check it out here) the message is sweetly driven home - please recycle.
Soon we’ll be posting more images of the artworks in the slideshow on our gallery page. Make sure you check ‘em out!
in the gallery…re-ART ‘08 - October 18 - November 29
The response to our call to artists for re-ART ‘08 was awesome. We received 130 individual entries of art from recycled materials from nearly 30 different artists in a great variety of mediums. Our jurors did a great job bringing the overall number down to a manageable amount, while keeping the show interesting and fun. We are excited to be showing the work of 22 Northwest artists dedicated to finding re-creative and lasting ways to re-use what might be otherwise discarded. There’s no junk here! Just re-ART!
Tacoma (and environs) will be represented by:
Brett Carlson, Cara Jennings, Blue Hesikx, Jefferson Elliott, Alice Di Certo, Sherry Broussard, Satya Bradshaw, Cash, Christine Parent, Tim Mulligan, Jennevieve Schlemmer, Danella Sydow, Chris Wooten, Ann Darling, Steve Lawler and Ms. Seberson’s 2008 3rd grade class at Washington-Hoyt Elementary.
From Seattle: Chas Guidry, Monika Lidman and Heather Daveno
from Olympia: Diane Kurzyna
and from Port Townsend: Suzan Hazard and Loran Scruggs
Remember! re-ART’08 is about our community. 30% of gross sales will be going to help the Tacoma Food Co-op get up and running as well as support the Sierra Club Zero Waste Committee.
Please join us for an artists’ reception and gala opening Saturday October 18 from 3 - 7 pm. Many of the artists will be present.
Three Cheers for the Bench Dog Regime!!!
Once again Madera took part in the Commencement Bay Maritime Festival Quick and Dirty Boat Building competition. It was a beautiful day for a boat race! But first we had to build our boat. The rules are fairly simple: teams are supplied with 4 sheets of 1/4″ plywood, 6 2×4s, 100 screws, some zip ties, a small can of an unknown color of paint and a couple tubes of caulk plus a “mystery” material. We have 6 hours to build a boat and then we race them in the bay. After a moderate success last year, a few modifications were made and, well, unfortunately we didn’t fair as well. Don’t mess with a good thing…Actually it wasn’t all that bad. We did receive the award for the “best looking” boat! But alas she was all show and no go - at least we finished the race, uh somewhere around 10th (out of 14).
Along with the fun of making and racing the Bench Dog 4, much of what made the day special was simply participating in this wonderful community event. Tacoma throws some of the best parties around and each one has a unique flavor to set it apart. The Maritime Fest is all about showcasing Tacoma’s historical working waterfront. There are boats (real ones) to climb aboard, boat tours of the port, dragon boat races, music, food, vendors and loads of fun activities for the kiddos. Having only 6 hours to build our boat made partaking in these offerings impossible. However seeing all of the smiling faces through the day as they came along to offer all of the teams encouragement and lots of luck showed us that we were part of a big party that was cruising along in high gear.
Thank you to the Maritime Festival and all of the volunteers and sponsors and thanks to the city of Tacoma for helping to bring our community together. We’ll see you next year!
…in the shop! After 2 years!
After nearly two years (of building commissioned pieces) I have finally created a piece of furniture for the gallery! It is a small end table entitled “Triquetra” made from Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) scraps left over from the custom door job we recently completed. It sells for $1,250. I based the design on the mysteries of the number 3 and the ancient symbol the triskelion or triskele. The construction is all wood (no fasteners) with a tung oil finish. A couple more images can be seen in the “furnishings” slide show on our portfolio page.
