Felton & Ferguson Woodworking: A dream realized
Montana Arts Council members and staff toured Felton & Ferguson Woodworking during the council’s June meeting in Lewistown.Harry Felton is a traditional woodworker and Jessica Ferguson has a background in interior design. Together they collaborate on furniture that incorporates contemporary design and traditional craft. Their one-of-a-kind originals have been showcased at the Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, WY.
Their use of native reclaimed woods of the West, including chokecherry, black hawthorne and red fir, gives a unique geographical flavor to their furniture. They also embrace hand tools instead of machines.
Felton made several points to MAC members during their visit. His eloquent comments could apply to all artistic pursuits:
• “Each piece of wood, each work of art, has something to teach me … What does being a working artist have to teach me? That I must have courage to begin and I require integrity to see it through.”
• “Standing in front of a blank canvas, blank tree or slab of wood, can be a crushing pressure. I must take risks and execute them with honesty and skill.”
• “The history, symbols, tradition and context of my field must be known to me.”
• “With each piece I am speaking to an audience: I must challenge them, I must meet them halfway; how much to placate/ how much to inspire?”
• “Traditional woodworking is a forgotten craft in our world. Our work is functional, by definition. It is also highly sculptural.”
• “My work as the craftsman is not in the perfection of the final piece, but in my integrity in making it. … I will know when I have stopped short or cut a corner. I must do each task, even the tedious or repetitive ones, to my full ability and standards.”
“In my mind, Harry and Jessica have what so many want … A dream realized,” said Tom Cordingley, vice chairman of the Arts Council. “These two build furniture from scratch and it is obvious they love it. And they aren’t afraid to show you how they do it.”
See examples of the artists’ work and their collaborative process at www.jiferguson.com.
(Photos): Harry Felton and Jessica Ferguson: “Traditional woodworking is a forgotten craft in our world.” (Photos by Czelsi Gómez)
Tags: MAC News