Credit Line: Owned by the Museum of Arts & Design

Owned By: Museum of Arts & Design

Object ID Number: 2016FBMH1

Object Number: 2016FBMH1

Notes: Story Book holds a unique place in the history of my studio work and my ongoing collaboration with The Center for Art in Wood. I was an adult degree student in Art History in the mid-1990’s. The Cabinets idea sprang from my studies of wunderkammern, the early ‘proto-museums’ of 17th century European collectors. In 1996, during an animated conversation with Albert LeCoff, I floated the idea of a show of Cabinets of Curiosities. I hoped it would foster collaboration between turners and furniture makers, inspired in part by the experience of the ‘Breaking Barriers’ event at Emma Lake, in Saskatchewan. The wheels turned and the idea became a reality. The entire experience was rich and satisfying, because it hit every ‘sweet spot’ of my interests. It gave me the opportunity to: -create a concept to showcase work in several fields. -contribute to the then Wood Turning Center, which had just moved into its first in-city venue on Vine Street. -craft a proposal for a cabinet about the curiosity of makers -write a narrative of the entire project for the catalogue -collaborate with many local makers: David Holzapfel as photojournalist; bookmaker Donna Hawes; logger Kim Thayer; sawyer Steve Smith; carpenter Dan MacArthur and Brown and Roberts hardware store. -construct a finished product, with plenty of carving of books, fabric and textures which all support and encase the actual Story Book album of photos and texts. -encapsulate a moment in history for future study which will continue to tell its story at the Museum of Art and Design in Manhattan. The final page of the Story Book contains this: Acknowledgement is at the heart of this project. David’s photographs tell the story of how Michelle made the cabinet and Donna made the books. It also serves as a record of the collaboration with other people: family, friends, neighbors, and business associates. This is only the beginning of the cabinet’s story. You, the viewers, are invited to participate in this Cabinet of Curiosities and contribute to its history.