National Treasures - History in the Making
A sampling of the artists' work. Click to view the gallery.This unprecedented exhibition and sale showcases the creations of internationally acclaimed wood artists exhibiting their interpretations of America's history through contemporary designs formed from our most treasured trees.
Each artist is provided with wood whose roots are steeped in American history, and asked to create a distinctive form which highlights their unique style as well as the historic site from which the wood was reclaimed.
National Treasures will celebrate the historic events that framed our nation, changed our way of life and continue to inspire our world today.
Click here for the National Treasures Catalog
Presented by William E. Jewell of Historical Woods of America, with co-curator and wood sculptor Jacques Vesery, the exhibit made it's National debut March 18-21, 2010 at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show in New York City.
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Learn more about the AD show at the Architectural Digest's Home Design Show site.
About the Exhibit
William Jewell and Jacques Vesery have brought together a select group of the world's most talented and respected wood artists at work today for a series of exhibits. The artists selected by William and Jacques have used wood reclaimed by HWA from some of America's most historic witness trees and historic sites in the nation.
The trees and timbers used in the creation of this body of work are reclaimed, or rescued, for various reasons such as storm damage, safety concerns, disease, or simply very old trees that have come to the end of their natural life.
HWA has reclaimed trees that were planted by some of our nation's first presidents; trees from the grounds of several presidential estates, Civil War witness trees and others. The artists have been supplied with wood that they chose from a list of species with these historic connections. Design and creation of the artwork was left to the artist’s imagination.
An expert in the field of historic tree reclamation and creative repurposing, as well as a professional woodworker, Jewell’s success in the creation of a business and brand like no other has lead him to venture out on a grand scale with the historic “Witness Trees” and timbers that he has reclaimed over the last several years. These trees and timbers have a direct and extremely important connection to our cultural past. By preserving history through the creation of museum-quality works of art, this connection will be carried on for many generations to come.
New artists who have recently joined the exhibition and are contemplating their wood selection and designs:
Judy Kensley Mckie, Alfred Sharp, Michael Puryear, David Lamb, Joe Tracy, Duncan Gowdy, Giles Gilson, Po Shun Leong, David Nittman, J. Paul Fennel, Philip Weber, Michael Bauermeister, Graeme Priddle and Norm Sartorius
Participating Artists (below) who have completed their pieces for the initial debut:
Furniture:
Tom Hucker
Silas Kopf
Michael Cullen
Jere Osgood
Wendy Maruyama
Garry Knox Bennett
Brian Newell
William E. Jewell
Sculpture:
Jacques Vesery
Trent Bosch
Robyn Horn
Jack Slentz
Mark Lindquist
Joey Richardson
Janel Jacobson
Merryll Saylan
Lathe Turned Art:
Binh Pho
Bonnie Klein
David Ellsworth
Knife and Pen Artist:
David Broadwell