The Next Wave

Curators Note


About a year ago Jack Alberti called to ask if I would curate an exhibition of studio furniture for the Windsor Art Association. The Next Wave- A Third Generation of Studio Furniture Makers seemed to be the perfect opportunity to gather a group of accomplished mid- career studio furniture makers. Looking back on my own history, at the time I was just starting out, an exhibition at the MFA in Boston called New American Furniture: The Second Generation of Studio Furnituremakers helped me see the possibilities of a life making furniture. Twenty years later I am still at it and still inspired by those around me who continue to explore making furniture as a means of expression and a way of life.

My interest in furniture is rooted at the intersection of design, technique, material and function, so it was natural for me to want to explore how my contemporaries interpret these relationships. The furniture makers are from the Northeast though their life experience and stylistic range is much broader. Each piece reflects the maker’s unique vision of what an everyday object has the potential to be. The diversity in their explorations of the material and technique as well as their interpretations of the various furniture types contributes to the story of studio furniture today.

I would like to thank Jack Alberti, Pat Fahy and the board of the Windsor Art Association and all of the participating exhibitors for their help, advice and generosity in creating this show. Thanks also goes to Jon Binzen for his contribution to the exhibition catalog.

Thomas Throop