Upcoming Shows
Studio Open House - Worcester, PA
November 25 - 27, 2011
For almost 20 years, Brad Smith and Royce Yoder have brought together a variety of artists and craftspeople for a fun filled weekend of art and craft. Held each year over Thanksgiving weekend, the Studio Open House has become a tradition among families and friends alike. In 2011, Brad and Royce will be joined by Stephen Brehm, Dennis Maust, and Skip Lynch.
Location
The Bradford Woodworking Studio, 3120 Fisher Road, Worcester, PA 19490
Hours
Fri: 10 am to 5 pm
Sat: 10 am to 5 pm
Sun: 12 pm to 5 pm
Admission
FREE
Brad Smith
"Furniture makers frequently ride the coattails of easily recognized styles such as Shaker, Country or Arts and Crafts. In my work, I intentionally try not to be pigeonholed into an existing furniture design category. What I try to do is make furniture that has not been seen before, but still retains some familiarity. That familiarity is gained through the use of good proportions, honest construction and old-fashioned usefulness.
My basic concept is to use "off the shelf" parts in ways that were never intended - as elements in the furniture. Because the shop is located on a farm, I decided to develop that as a theme, which is why the parts are farm related. The idea is to make something special out of something ordinary. Ax handles seemed to be the perfect chair leg with their gentle S-curve and knobby foot. Pitchforks make ideal supports for chair backs and they even have some spring when you lean back. Disc blades, used on farm equipment, are equally good as bases for my coatrees, lamps, and music stands. These parts have become significant elements in my design vocabulary and give the furniture its distinctive Bradford look."
Stephen Brehm
Stephen was born in Verdun, France. He spent his younger years moving with his family to Germany, Italy and Puerto Rico. Later he relocated to the United States and has lived in a variety of places from California to New York, Florida to Mississippi and now Pennsylvania. Through his travels, Stephen developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors and nature.
Stephen paints what moves him. An inspirational setting is key in the creation process. The light on a meadow, a sunlit tree against a sky, the colors in a shadow & the vibration between two colors are jewels of inspiration that are necessary in his landscapes and seascapes. A simple moment in time inspires him to capture nature's amazing palette. Palette knives and various size brushes are the tools of which he builds the surface of each piece, mixing the paints while finding that perfect color or colors placed next to each other. Each painting takes on a mind of it's own as he discovers wonderful surprises within every painting as it reveals itself.
Stephen graduated from Millersville University in 1987 with a Bachelors of Fine Art degree in painting and figure drawing. He was featured in Philadelphia Style Magazine and has received numerous honors for his talents. Stephen's paintings reside in homes and businesses from California, Florida, and throughout the northeast and Europe. He exhibits extensively at outdoor art shows in the northeast, midwest, the eastern seaboard as well as galleries in Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Dennis Maust
Dennis Maust was born in 1952 in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He attended
both Eastern Mennonite, and Goshen Colleges, graduating from EMC in
1975. After earning a Master of Arts degree in Painting and Ceramics
from James Madison University, he and his wife lived overseas in Egypt,
Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Upon returning to the states, he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology's School for American Crafts. Since graduating in 1986 he has combined teaching ceramics and producing one-of-a-kind pieces in clay.
Dennis has lived in Lancaster County since 1990 with the exception of 1998 - 2001 when he moved his family to Tanzania in East Africa where he was involved in product-design work with various craft groups. Dennis has had work in exhibitions across the country and has had work published in Ceramics Monthly and Pottery Making Illustrated.
Skip Lynch
Skip Lynch has made a living with his eye for design, craftsmanship and attention to detail. Over the last decade he has found more time to spend in his woodworking shop. Over the last few years, he's begun to make a playful selection of wooden toys. When he is not in the shop, he can be found overseeing the daily activities of LMA Architects, a suburban Philadelphia firm that he co-founded.