Winners Announced for Vermont Woodworking Design Competition

WOODSTOCK, VT- At the recent 9th Annual VT Fine Furniture & Woodworking Festival the finest wood craftsmen in Vermont exhibited their design entries in the Vermont Woodworking Design Competition. The entries were displayed not only for the judges, but for the public to give them an opportunity to see, first hand, the broad scope of work designed and created by the state’s many artisans. The panel of prestigious judges included Robert Fletcher, the Co-founder of the Vermont Woodworking School & a Furniture-Master in Residence at the School; Dave Sellers, Owner of Sellers & Company Sellers in Warren, VT with quite an extensive background in design and architecture; and James Murray, currently the Executive Director of Design & Product Development at Simon Pearce Glass. 

Judges enjoyed the day with their clipboards on hand, making notes that would help them decide who would walk away with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards in the various categories offered. Five professional categories were offered for Custom or Studio Furniture, Production Furniture, Production, Woodenware, Custom Woodenware, and Carvings or Sculptures, in addition to one student/apprentice category for those 18 and over and enrolled in school for woodworking. Pieces were judged based upon the quality of the craftsmanship and the innovativeness of the design. The Competition was open only to those pieces that are designed and made in Vermont, by Vermont woodworkers and students.

First Place prizes were awarded in each of the categories to the following professional woodworkers: production furniture to ClearLake Furniture of Ludlow, VT for Waterman Stacking Chairs, custom or studio furniture to David Hurwitz of David Hurwitz Originals in Randolph, VT for his Chest of Drawers; custom woodenware to Janet A. Collins of Green Mountain Woodturning in Ryegate, VT for her Cherry Bowl with Black Inlay; production woodenware to Adam Rainville of Maple Landmark Woodcraft in Middlebury, VT for his Ferris Wheel; and carvings and sculpture to Jason Ballard of My Minds Design in Grafton, VT for Why? Why Knot!

Alicia Dietz took 1st place for her Patriotic Poker in the 18+ student-apprentice category, 2nd place was awarded to Tim Peters for Box #2, and 3rd place went to Max Paskin-Flerlage for his Hickory Rocker. Peters is a first semester Immersion Program student at the Vermont Woodworking School, Dietz is a second semester student getting her Certificate Degree in Woodworking & Furniture Making, and Paskin-Flerlage is working towards his BFA in Woodworking & Furniture Making, both at Burlington College.

Students learn the fundamentals of woodworking, and fine tune their skills by participating in skills-based classes and workshops offered by members of the Guild of Vermont Furniture Makers. Dietz states, “The Vermont Woodworking School and it's amazing instructors have given me the technical knowledge, the hands-on instruction, and the artistic environment that allow me to channel my creativity and passion for woodworking into actual pieces of furniture.  I learn something new every day, am challenged by my projects and my peers, and am surrounded by dedicated, optimistic, and generous faculty.   This experience has been a long time coming and one that I am grateful for each and every day”. To view more about the woodworking certificates, degrees, and programs offered at Burlington College & the Vermont Woodworking School please visit https://www.burlington.edu/content/woodworking-school or www.vermontwoodworkingschool.com.

T would like to thank the following companies for their prize donations: Fine Woodworking Magazine, Vermont Natural Coatings, Super Thin Saws, Groff & Groff Lumber, American Woodworker, Gagnon Lumber, Amoskeag Woodworking, & Dremel Tools.

Congratulations to everyone that entered into the competition. A complete list of winners in all categories can be found at www.vermontwooddesigns.org.