Windgate fellowships put spotlight on wood-based artists

The Center for Art in Wood in Philadelphia has awarded six fellowships for its annual Windgate International Residency Program, which began on June 13 and runs through Aug. 5.

Established in 1995, the residency is a collegial experience that encourages fellows to explore new work, either solely in wood or in other materials in meaningful combination with wood, through research, exploration, and collaboration.

“Each of the 2022 fellows is an accomplished artist who brings a unique approach to their ongoing work in the material; they range in focus from 18th century furniture conservation and wood turning, to rapid prototyping, conceptual sculpture, and performance,” Jennifer-Navva Milliken, the Center’s chief curator and executive director, tells Woodshop News.

“This wide approach to techniques and perspectives challenges the way we all view the field of woodworking, while pushing the vision and skill of the residents and creating meaningful connections. The [Center] exists to foster these opportunities for artists to experiment and collaborate, allowing for discoveries and breakthroughs.”

During the nine-week program, the fellows work together at NextFab in Philadelphia, a network of membership-based makerspaces.

The program culminates with an exhibition at the Center.

This year’s fellowships went to three of the Center’s resident artists, as well as a student artist, a visual documentarian, and a scholar.

The artists selected are Philadelphia’s James Maurelle, Janice Smith and Chris Strob, as well as student artist and Colorado native Kailee Bosch.

The visual documentarian is Wisconsin-based woodworker and furniture designer Katie Hudnall. Midway through the residency, Toronto-based author and craft expert D Wood joined the cohort for one week to explore personal research, engage in open discussions, and conduct interviews with each fellow.

Residents also participate in several Center-sponsored educational events, including an Open Studio Day at NextFab, where the public can view artist demonstrations and discuss works-in-progress.

According to Milliken, the residency was designed by the Center’s co-founding director, Albert LeCoff, to provide professional artists with the opportunity to spend two months with their peers experimenting, researching, working collaboratively, and exchanging knowledge and insights.

“Artists are selected from all over the world to live and work in Philadelphia, a city with a long and fascinating history of woodworking. During their time on the residency, the artists and scholars live and work together, visit the incredible cultural sites and treasures of the region, meet collectors and artists, and forge connections with their colleagues that continue long beyond their time on the residency,” Mililken says.

For more, visit centerforartinwood.org.  

This article was originally published in the August 2022 issue.