2018 Award of Distinction Recipient
The Furniture Society proudly bestowed its coveted 2018 Award of Distinction upon Craig Nutt. His award was presented at a luncheon ceremony on Saturday, June 16, 2018 during the Furniture Society’s conference in San Francisco. Craig Nutt was presented his award by his good friend, Toni Sikes, who is the co-founder and CEO of CODAworx, the online platform for commissioned art that brings artists, architects, designers, industries resources, and fabricators together for collaborative projects.
The 2018 jury, (Bebe Johnson, Donald Fortescue and Matt Hutton) chaired by Wendy Maruyama – concluded in their assessment that “Craig Nutt is the outstanding candidate for this year with such resounding support from so many important people in the field and from the Furniture Society membership at large.” His contribution to the field was not only as a unique maker, but for his unselfish “dedication and presence in shaping The Furniture Society from its beginnings, and later, his contributions to the development of The Craft Emergency Relief Foundation.”
Craig Nutt has had a significant impact on the field of studio furniture from many angles – as a maker, educator, activist, and advocate. As a maker, Craig is a consummate craftsman who articulates the whimsy of his iconic carved vegetable forms within the context of traditional furnituremaking vocabulary and technique. He has been a woodworker and furniture maker for more than 40 years. His interest in furniture making was kindled by employment as an antique restorer in his early twenties while a budding painter and experimental musician. His work is in numerous public collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C.
As an educator, Craig has lectured, presented, and led workshops and seminars at craft schools, conferences and furniture programs around the country since the 1980’s.