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WOOD XI, a Retrospective

The Rambling Explorations of a Hand Tool Fool #1

Brian and Nancy Murphy are longtime residents of Escondido and in addition to making furniture for sale, they started  American Furniture Design, a company that publishes working plans for woodworkers in the Arts and Crafts style furniture,  and whose products are now sold by Lee Valley, a company familiar to many woodworkers. He continues to make custom Arts and Crafts style furniture at his shop in Escondido and you check out his work at http://murphysfinewoodworking.com


Brian is also a past chairman of the Escondido Chamber of Commerce and has been actively involved in public service in Escondido for decades, including the Escondido Arts Partnership (EAP). 

The EAP is committed to exhibiting the work of local artists and has a gallery on Grand Avenue, Escondido where they showcase artist work throughout the year. They also have a working relationship with the Mingei folk art museum in San Diego’s Balboa Park and regularly exhibit items from their collection. 

Around 12 years ago the Murphy’s and the EAP decided to set up an annual exhibit of work by regional furniture makers that would be in addition to, and complementary to the Design In Wood show that SDFWA organizes each summer at the Del Mar Fair. After consultation with SDFWA, they decided to hold the show in the Winter and settled on January as the date. The first show opened in 2009 and featured the work of just five woodworkers. 

WOOD soon became a place to go and see high quality furniture and a space for some of Southern California’s outstanding wood artists to show their work during the winter months. 

 The 2020 event had 36 entrants with 17 sponsors, and was open for nearly two months. It is currently the gallery’s most popular annual exhibit and there are awards made in the categories of Design, Craftsmanship, Finish and for Student work. All woodworkers are invited submit their work. Applicants do not have to live in or near Escondido or be a member of the EAP, although members get a discount on the entry fee for exhibits

For this show the Mingei Museum loaned a rocking chair that was designed and made by Wendell Castell, a leading and innovative furniture designer of the mid to late 20th century.

Unfortunately the WOOD XII scheduled to open on January 9th has been cancelled due to COVID 19 restrictions, but will be back next year. I thought that you would still enjoy reading about last years exhibit and perhaps it will inspire you to start making the piece that will be your entry in next years show!.

 Below I have posted pictures of some of the entries in the 2020 exhibit. If you enjoyed them, check out the photos of work from previous WOOD and other art events at  www.escondidoarts.org. Before COVID 19 drastically altered all our lives the EAP gallery consistently showcased the work of local artists in the gallery and they continue to hold and plan online events as well as planning for a full schedule of gallery shows when that becomes practical. 

Travis Good recently posted a really interesting photo essay about 2020”s Best In Show winner, Werner Pyka, and over the next few weeks I will be posting photo articles about the four first place winners in last years show.

The first piece will be about Paul Schurch, the winner of First Prize for Craftsmanship, and this guy is true Master Craftsman in the Old World sense! Watch this space.

The pictures below are of some of the entries from last year.

Photos courtesy of Escondido Arts Partnership and Murphy’s Fine Woodworking 

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