A number of years ago we wrote an article about designing and making of our extraordinary Lounge Chair No. 3. Our intent was to encourage other makers to push their design ideas further. I am pleased to have received my copy here in Ireland.
I am pleased to announce the recognition of Lounge Chair No. 3 from an international jury of fine craft experts. The Arts and Crafts Design Award in an on-line competition with entries from some 40 different countries. Browsing the entries for 2016 is a feast of finely made items from masters of craft. It is a great honor to be chosen from among them as a recipient of the Jury’s Joker Prize. In a pack of cards, the Joker is the card of opportunity. We see this award as a stepping stone to greater opportunities in the future.
I acknowledge the Canada Council for the Arts for their support. Last year, the Council invested 153 million dollars to bring the arts into the lives of Canadians everywhere.
Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien. L’an dernier, le Conseil a investi 153 millions de dollars pour mettre de l’art dans la vie des Canadiennes et des Canadiens de tout le pays.
Ever been to the Mary E. Black Gallery? Located between Pier 21 and the new Farmers Market and hidden behind a gorgeous old train car, the Gallery always features interesting exhibitions. This month the exhibition is celebrating 40 years of excellence by Nova Scotia master artisans. And though I am a recent addition to the list, it is an honor to have two of my favorite pieces showcased in the show. I hope you’ll find time to visit the Gallery. For more information please visit their website. 
As noted on my home page I am happy to echo this announcement made on July 12, 2016. It is a great honor to be named along with the other astounding finalists. Lounge Chair No. 2 is the nominated piece. I appreciated the eloquent description on the Masterworks website:
“Lounge Chair No. 2 (2015) is composed of black walnut and white ash, with strikingly fluid legs-to-seat joinery. As a handmade object the chair demonstrates breathtaking technical skill. Its form is sculpturally conceived—a masterful example of fine craft and design. The chair’s design is visibly rooted in Nova Scotian forms, and encompasses multiple strands of design history in one work. The resulting singularity sums up its impact.”
Lounge Chair No. 2 is on display at the Fraser Cultural Center in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia until the end of July.
I welcome you to visit the Fraser Cultural Centre in Tatamagouche for the NAC members’ show beginning Friday, June 10. The Northumberland Arts Council is a non-profit organization run by exceptional volunteers. For collectors, this means all sales are HST exempt and all commissions support the promotion of the arts in the area. Two of my pieces are on display- the award winning Lounge Chair No. 2 and Stool No. 6. Please visit their website- www.fraserculturalcentre.org for details. 
I am pleased to announce being awarded Master Artisan status from the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council. After presenting examples of my work and speaking about my craft before the Standards Committee earlier this month, I was delighted to receive this letter confirming my acceptance as a master. Mastering anything requires a serious commitment of time and resources and it was no different in my case; there were no shortcuts such as a genius might enjoy, just some 30,000 hours of making things from wood. My thanks to all who had a hand in making this progress possible. 
My thanks to Shari Kulha for this piece in the National Post- From Niche to Noticed. January 30,2016.
My thanks to all who had a hand in arranging the awards and to those who made it possible for me to reach this level of design and craft. My sincere thanks also to Arts Nova Scotia for making it possible for me to be present with the chair at the American Made Show. More than 1600 submissions from Canada and the United States were considered. Only 180 were named as finalists. Less than 40 of these were winners. Winners were announced at a ceremony on Saturday, January 16, 2016 in Washington, D.C.
The criteria for the prize was three-fold:
From a worldwide field of hundreds of juried contestants from some 40 different nations, only 38 are chosen for this Certificate. This is the only one from Canada to be awarded. Once again, it’s my Lounge Chair No. 2 that drew this recognition. 
So in addition to being the most difficult piece I have ever designed, and the most comfortable chair I’ve sculpted, it seems that it is also an achiever from a purely design perspective. Many thanks to all of my customers and supporters for helping me to this stage of furniture making.
Regards,
The Niche Awards have been celebrating American and Canadian fine craft for 27 years. Sponsored by Niche magazine, artists are recognized in both student and professional divisions. Nearly 2,000 entries are received each year from professional and student craft artists from across the U.S. and Canada. Each year, a prestigious panel of judges is selected by the editors of NICHE magazine, including gallery owners, guild and museum directors, curators, craft industry experts and arts advocates. Only 5 artists are named finalists in each category. This year, my Lounge Chair No. 2- seen below- was named a finalist in the Tables and Seating category. I appreciate this recognition very much. The ceremony will take place January 2016 in Washington D.C. 
