2021 John D. Mineck Furniture Fellowship Award Winner
Boston’s Society of Arts + Crafts announced that Jamie Herman is the 2021 recipient of the John D. Mineck Fellowship, a high-profile award that includes an unrestricted $25,000 prize and is given annually to an early-career furniture artist.
Herman is a woodworker, sculptor, and teacher currently working at the Peters Valley School of Craft in Layton, New Jersey. He is an alumnus of the Vermont Woodworking School. He stood out to the Fellowship jury as a talented artist with solid skills, a commitment to artistic growth, and a comprehensive plan for the prize money.
Herman’s beautifully off-kilter designs reflect a deeper process whereby artistic creation functions as a way to heal and manage personal issues. “Making has always been a form of therapy for me,” Herman says. “I struggled with mental health during my time in Vermont. But having a project in front of me that was all-consuming and occupied my hands gave me a chance to process things in a more useful way.
Herman plans to use his Fellowship prize to set up an independent studio, continue his education in new mediums, and develop programs that connect young furniture makers with mentors in the field. “Jamie’s building process, his deep commitment to craft, and his desire to assist young makers exemplifies the heart and soul of the Mineck Fellowship,” says Society of Arts + Crafts Executive Director Brigitte Martin. “The jury who chose him as the winner liked Jamie’s plan that includes other talented woodworkers and provides a tangible way to support them.”
Learn more about the John D. Mineck Fellowship