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Guidance from a Master |
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If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is—or so
they say. A couple of years ago, I proved them all wrong when
I did an internship with one of Canada's premier contemporary
furniture makers, Michael Fortune. For 10 glorious weeks,
I had the opportunity to absorb as much as I could from Michael's
30-plus years of experience making beautiful, functional furniture.
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These
steam-bent and laminated chairs with a marquetry
pattern exemplify
the detail and craftsmanship of Michael Fortune's
work. |
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| In
1993, Michael was the first woodworker to receive the Saidye
Bronfman Award, Canada's highest recognition of excellence in
the fine crafts. This year, he received the prestigious Award
of Distinction from the Furniture Society, recognizing his lifetime
achievement in the field of studio furniture arts. He works
in his rural Lakefield, Ontario, studio, building furniture
of his own design for private residences throughout North America
using low-tech, traditional woodworking and metalworking techniques.
His furniture can also be seen in the collections of the Royal
Ontario Museum in Toronto, Ontario, and the Canadian Museum
of Civilization in Ottawa, Ontario. |
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| During my time in Michael's studio, he began
to design and then build a challenging concept for a table,
which the Government of Canada commissioned. Rather than
help Michael, I chose to design and build a bed to add
to my portfolio. Try as I might, I knew that I couldn't
absorb everything Michael had to offer in such a short
period. Instead, I attempted to understand his approach
to furniture making in general. |
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A model of the bed the author designed and started
building during her internship with Michael Fortune. |
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Other
Articles from this Issue |
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