Anything related to George Nakashima, his studio, his family, and his extraordinary his legacy, has been of a great interest to me. After all, it was in his studio, when I met him in the 80s, that my taste began to form. Now that the Michener Art Museum has opened its new show ‘Nakashima Looks: Studio Furniture at the Michener,’ curated by his daughter Mira Nakashima-Yarnall, it is a great opportunity to visit Bucks County, the region where the late American-Japanese woodworker made a home, and where the rich American craft movement was established. Nakashima-Yarnall is the live spirit behind the Nakashima Woodworkers today, and has been since her father’s passing in 1990. While faithful to continue making her father’s designs, she, as an artist herself, has developed and experimented with new methods. While at the Museum, remember to visit the Nakashima Reading Room (below) where visitors can truly experience the type of therapeutical interiors which Nakashima sought to advance. It showcased objects from the Museum’s permanent collections, including pieces by those who have made the region a creative center. The show remains on view through July 9, and when you visit, make sure to visit Rago Auctions, my favorite auction house for design objects, which is just down the road.
