Mesquite Furniture takes a Sculptural Direction

So as we wrap up this year of mesquite furniture making and look back on the client list, projects and creative challenges we find that this was the year that Lou's work has REALLY jumped creatively. The exciting projects currently in house will be released in the coming New Year 2014 and show a leap in the direction of his work. Lou has been moving into a much more artistic and sculptural direction and these new pieces will certainly showcase that direction.

Lou Quallenberg with Jig to bend Mesquite

Lou Quallenberg & Shawn Walker remove mesquite curve from jig

We are thankful for the new clients this year that have helped push this new direction, but are also aware that several of the former client's (now collectors) with their new projects have added to the momentum.  What a true blessing to be able to hone your skills and craft as you create commissions for people that truly appreciate your work! We are so very thankful to our clients and collectors, past, present and future that help Lou Quallenberg's work increase in value as they seek it out.

THANK YOU!!!!

This year we entered two contests Martha Stewart's American Made and Intuit's Small Business Big Game. While we did not win either contest, we like to think that we gained experience by entering and competing and perhaps got a bit of exposure that we would not have had otherwise.  Creating a video for the Intuit contest reminded us that we never really did the YouTube video series that we had started a few years back. So maybe this new year will be the year?!

Check out the video that we did for The Intuit Small Business Big Game Contest:

Check out the first video that we did on YouTube and let us know if you think we should do more:

This year brought us a few surprises with the reunion, connection and reconnection of family.  It reminded us that the world works in mysterious ways and God's hand is in all of it. We are very blessed to add more family and hope to strengthen the family bonds that we already have as well.  With that said we need to add a word or two of THANKS to the Walker Family (AKA Cheryl's Family). Shawn for his work in the shop and on deliveries, Steve for his creative genius in helping Lou make his sketches reality, Carolyn for putting up with the shop shenanigans and Heather for always being on call to Barney sit or lend a hand. Matthew and Taylor for being themselves and helping here & there. We LOVE all of our families: old & new, good & bad, known & unknown, alive & deceased because we know they are ALL in some way a part of what makes us who we are.    

The Lou Quallenberg Studios Catalog was updated in early 2013 but it along with the website are due for a TOTAL makeover this new year. We are open to any and all ideas and suggestions so please feel free to let us know what you think.

We received some good press this past year with an article in Tex Appeal Magazine and a mention in the "THINGS WE LOVE" section in Western Art & Architecture.  While mesquite is a Texas native and Western art collectors are aware of mesquite and its beautiful qualities. Our goal is to attract buyers and collectors that are not so familiar with the wood.

Sometimes a familiarity with something limits the imagination of what it can be,  we see mesquite as a beautiful medium that should not be limited by its Texan and/or Western roots.

Don't get me wrong, we embrace the Texas Heritage of mesquite.  We truly appreciate the favorable reception of Lou Quallenberg's work at The Texas Furniture Makers Show.  A "Jersey" boy Winning the "Best Texas Style" Category a whopping five times says something about the maker, the wood and it's Texas roots, but we see it as something bigger than Texas. Oh wait did I really say that?! Okay as BIG as Texas!  What I am saying is the beauty of this wood should not be limited to Texas or western homes and ranches.....

"Sometimes a familiarity with something limits the imagination of what it can be, we see mesquite as a beautiful medium that should not be limited by its Texan and/or Western roots." CWQuallenberg

In this coming new year we hope to continue our work of helping, encouraging and inspiring young artists (and maybe a few older ones.) We know that we learn from and are inspired by them as much as they are by us. We DO still dream, search and plan for a future creative workspace that will include an Artist in Residence program and be a place of inspiration for years to come. We truly love to collaborate and share with artists of all kinds and offer ANY and ALL of our experience and skills gained to anyone who takes the time to ask for or seek it out. 

We wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!  

May ALL of your Dreams and Desires 

Come True in 2014!

       

Time keeps ticking away

"S-curve" an early more primitive piece shown at 2011Texas Furniture Makers Show

Time is ticking away. The year is already winding down. Is it just me? or is time moving faster? It seems as if there is not enough time in the day to get all of the many things that are required to function in this day and age, accomplished. Most of the things originally considered time savers have actually snuck their way into the time waster category.  Cell phones make us slaves to their tones and vibrations.  The internet that connects us to everything and everyone, tempts us with meaningless info, cute cat photos, bizarre happenings, and viral videos. Don't let me get started on social media.....

Lou is often overheard saying he does not have enough time left in this lifetime to complete the many projects he has bouncing around in his brain.  I have seen some of his sketches and I know he is right. Don't get me wrong,  I know he will definitely be leaving behind an artistic trail of mesquite furniture and objet all photographed, cataloged and assigned to their original buyers and locations.  I suspect this feeling is true of most artists and probably one of the very catalysts that drive them to produce that thing that they each do so well - their own individualized "art."

We are currently under a serious time crunch as Lou tries to finish up a new piece for the Texas Furniture Makers Show and a few commissioned pieces that are due to the clients in early November.  This has been an incredibly busy year for us and we feel so very blessed to have such great clients, both old and new.  Last year Lou did not even have time to attempt creating a new piece for the Texas Furniture Makers Show and we ended up putting in an earlier more primitive piece.  Lou Quallenberg's work has become much more sculptural and artistic. This years entry piece will clearly show how much his work has evolved.

 Texas Furniture Makers Show 

A Statewide Competition of the Finest Custom Furniture Makers in Texas

November 8 through December 8, 2012

Kerr Arts & Cultural Center
228 Earl Garrett Street

Kerrville, Texas 78028

Reception November 17, 5:30 - 8 pm

Gallery Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday, 1 - 4 pm

We recently had the opportunity to visit with our friends, Utah Artist Les Powers and his wonderful wife Tauni. They stopped by Llano on their way to a show in Austin to visit, see the shop and pick up some mesquite wood. Les makes such amazing sculptural pieces combining wood and stone that wrap, twist and weave around each other. Each one carefully named and thought out with a story full of meaning. His work can be viewed online at NaturesForms.net.  During our visit Les made the same comment Lou does about not having enough time to produce all the work floating around in his head.  I think Lou feels the way about Les's brain that I feel about his.  "In awe" is a probably a simple way to describe it.

Sharing ideas and info.

Les Powers, Lou Quallenberg & Simba

Les Signing a piece for the show

Tauni makes a beautiful background

Les even stacks his wood artistically

 
We met Les & Tauni at the Western Design Conference in 2008 the first year it was held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We connected immediately and chose to meet up and hang out again at the Western Design Conference the following year, along with Tim Carney and his beautiful artist wife Maureen Shaughnessy - who by the way encouraged us to start this blog. Meeting and sharing with incredible artists is one of our favorite social pastimes. We met Tom Dean of Milo Creek Carvings at the 2009 WDC and continue to joke and tease with him to this day. We always enjoy connecting, sharing and feeding the inspiration and energy that occurs as artists gather, socialize and share.

This quote sums it all up: 

"Artists are some of the most driven, courageous people on the face of the earth. They deal with more day-to-day rejection in one year than most people do in a lifetime.... Every day, artists face the financial challenge of living a freelance lifestyle, the disrespect of people who think they should get real jobs, and their own fear that they’ll never work again. Every day, they have to ignore the possibility that the vision they have dedicated their lives to is a pipe dream. With every role, they stretch themselves, emotionally and physically, risking criticism and judgment. With every passing year, many of them watch as the other people their age achieve the predictable milestones of normal life - the car, the family, the house, the nest egg. Why? Because artists are willing to give their entire lives to a moment - to that line, that laugh, that gesture, or that interpretation that will stir the audience’s soul. Artists are beings who have tasted life’s nectar in that crystal moment when they poured out their creative spirit and touched another's heart. In that instant, they were as close to magic, God, and perfection as anyone could ever be. And in their own hearts, they know that to dedicate oneself to that moment is worth a thousand lifetimes.” - David Ackert

We would have never known about the show if we had not discovered the incredible work of Al Hone in a copy of the Sourcebook from the Western Design Conference. His work and the opportunity to meet him was one of the reasons we decided to do that final 2006 Western Design Conference in Cody, Wyoming. (That and the fact that Sam Maloof was one of the judges!)

Al and Mary Hone and their pup named Roxie are the authentic faces of Western art and design.   Al's award winning carved masterpieces and sculptures are so incredible in their detail and design.

Check out a few of his available pieces:

Spirit of the Tetons 46w x 26d x 30h

Executive Desk

Credenza: 93w x 98h x 22d   

Desk: 60w x 32d x 30h

Longhorn Cabinet 90h x 46w x 21d

Raven Magic Mirror 52w x 44h

For  more take a look at his website: AlHone.com.  Mary uses antique trade beads and creates beautiful beaded jewelry, leather work and accessories inspired by native Indian patterns and design. Together they are traveling the country in an RV, creating their art and living their dream.  I suspect that even living that lifestyle they still feel time leaking away here and there.  Who knows maybe quelling that feeling of time shrinking away is why they chose to pack up and hit the road in the first place.