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by Peter Lloyd & Andrew Crawford
Introduction | Foreword by David Linley | About the Authors Wooden boxes - these simple words encompass so many possibilities: fine sculpted or carved work, functional or fanciful, immaculately constructed and veneered - or just hollowed out. From exquisitely made traditional boxes to some of the wildest creations by today's most outstanding and innovative designer/makers - the "CELEBRATING BOXES" project features them all. By presenting this rich diversity of contemporary work we hope to promote the 'Art' as well as the 'Craft' of this fascinating branch of woodwork The Celebrating Boxes project was first discussed in Peter Lloyd's studio workshop in Cumbria, UK way back in July 1994. It seemed that box making was undervalued in comparison to some other branches of woodworking, an imbalance that we wanted to redress. Tullie House, Carlisle's Museum and Art Gallery liked the idea and Peter can still remember the day when the idea achieved the elevated status of having its own file! The seed was sown and started to germinate ~ Peter visited the US, Andrew visited Australia and both returned with good news: there are plenty of box makers out there, drawing from a wide range of disciplines and producing work in an extraordinary variety of styles. We then advertised, wrote to magazines and informed Craft Councils worldwide. The enormous response we received confirmed that we were on to something good and we soon had a database of well over 400 makers from all corners of the globe. The project was rolling and plans were made. A selection process was held in February 2000 and around 80 makers were chosen. The exhibition which opens in Tullie House, Carlisle in September 2001 is planned to tour nationally and internationally. This book includes work by most of the makers selected for the Celebrating Boxestouring exhibition ~ artists from Britain, USA, Europe Australia, Russia, Denmark, Canada, Israel and New Zealand. Full contact details for all featured makers are in the index, including email and websites where appropriate and the Celebrating Boxes website at www.celebratingboxes.com has all the most up to date tour and other information. Wood is a remarkable material and in this age of computer technology, when almost everything is instant, the slower pace that is required to work this rich medium should be welcomed. All the work in this book uses wood as the principle material but pieces including metals, stones, leather and textiles are also included. The wide range of work featured here only goes to confirm wood once again as the truly wonderful and versatile commodity it is. Originally conceived as an image based book with a minimum of text we found that, as well as fantastic images, we also received a wealth of thoughtful, creative and witty writing as the makers shared their insights into their Art/Craft. Perhaps it goes without saying that if you ask creative people to write, you get creative writing ~ in any case, this rich crop of wise words has certainly added an extra dimension. And why boxes? It is a clichéŽ to claim that there is a universal fascination with boxes, but there undoubtedly is ~ and it has been intriguing to discover the diverse and winding routes by which many of these artisans have arrived at their obsessions with these small objects of desire. Their reasons vary from the prosaic to the bizarre, but all contribute to an understanding of their philosophies, their approaches to design and how they arrive at the sometimes provocative and startling imagery conjured up by their creations. There is no uniform approach to the content for each maker ~ rather than filling out boxes on a form we felt that simply asking them what made them tick would be the best way to arrive at what was important to them. In short, each maker contributed what they felt they wanted to and we have let them tell their own story. Some editing was, of course, necessary: it goes without saying that these makers exhibit and sell their work widely so we have omitted gallery and commission lists and also much of the dry biographical and educational information. We have generally not included turners ~ the few that do appear are included because they are producing pieces that involve a range of disciplines of which turning is just one. It is easy to suppose, working alone as most craftsmen do, that you are on your own trying to achieve a certain goal. It can be lonely ~ but working on a project like this you realise that you are part of a huge family that experience similar hopes, dreams aspirations and, sometimes, failures. Or, as Chris Cantwell puts it, woodstove material! We have had great fun compiling a book that includes the work, and words, of so many wonderful and original makers. It has been an inspiring and humbling experience, too ~ and hard; the astonishingly high and consistent quality has made it a difficult task to do justice to all their achievements without writing a book twice this size! This is a book about art, craft and creativity ~ a window into the private worlds of nearly 70 of the world's finest and most diverse designer/makers. We hope that it will be an inspiration to collectors, designers, enthusiasts and woodworkers everywhere ~ and anyone else with even a passing interest in boxes. Peter Lloyd & Andrew Crawford.
The boxmaker distils the skills of painter, sculptor and furniture-maker, with their craftsmanship put under a microscope and their artistry displayed in three dimensions. No wonder making boxes has become so popular, offering woodworkers a canvas for so many styles, approaches and techniques. Justified by the purpose of the box, the artist-craftsman can stretch abilities and imagination to produce a working sculpture. Few avenues of creativity offer such indulgence. The boxes and makers illustrated here by Andrew Crawford and Peter Lloyd epitomise the amazing emergence of box-art in the last few decades. From around the world they have plucked the very best makers, choosing a remarkable range of pieces to demonstrate the vibrancy of boxmaking today. Amongst the examples is work by Robert Ingham, who taught me when I was training at Parnham in the 1980s, and who represents the tantalising point at which artist meets engineer. For Robert, boxmaking was an expedient, enabling him to squirrel away work when students demanded his time. I remember making a highly complex box that was designed by him which incorporated miniature dovetails, inlay and turning that pushed all the students to the limit in terms of striving for perfection and attention to detail, to the point where I had to grind down my I /8" chisel to I /16"! It was such a labour of love I gave it to my father who inspired my career in cabinet making, and it sits on the desk in his study now. Who'd have thought then, some 20 years ago when independent furniture makers were a rarity in themselves, that boxmaking would become a specialism, with an elite of its own. Each boxmaker has his or her story. Threads may be
woven across continents, but each is unique, finding a special way to
express themselves in small scale and with precision. Some do so with
driftwood, others with colours and the most exotic timber. Some strut
their stuff on the outside, others reveal hidden worlds within. The
fascination and importance of the work Peter and Andrew are celebrating
lies in that breadth, and in the lengths to which artists will go to
produce the most beautiful and evocative boxes.
They have also arrived at the strong conviction
that boxes are undervalued in the 'Art' world so, in 'Celebrating Boxes',
they have pooled their experience to write a book which celebrates
and promotes the contemporary wooden box in all its guises together
with the artists active in this fascinating branch of wood art.
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C E L E B R A T I N G B
O X E S
Over
the years plenty has been written about the eternal battle between form
and function. When clients commission furniture they have a high expectation
that chairs and tables will perform in a certain way, being comfortable
and practical, as well as pleasing to the eye. That ergonomic necessity,
not to mention the sheer size, can dominate the designing and making
process. Boxes are different. Obviously what they have to contain may
limit the boundaries of shape and substance, but in so many cases the
purpose for which they are made is of secondary importance to their
role as an ornament.
Peter
Lloyd & Andrew Crawford are professional box makers and experienced
writers. Each has a very individual approach to their craft - but they
share a love of wood, a commitment to fine craftsmanship and a fascination
with the mystique of boxes of all sorts. Both have travelled widely,
written books on the subject and have accumulated an extensive knowledge
and understanding of the art and craft of box making.