Rago Auctions, 333 N. Main St., Lambertville, N.J., hosts makers of modern crafts Mark Sfirri, Rod McCormick and Miriam Carpenter, Wednesday, Jan. 16, for a panel discussion titled “Makers’ Perspectives: Old School/New School.”
Artists working in the field of design, they have, over the course of their careers, developed markedly different approaches to their crafts. They will each share these very different processes, from concept to design to the creation of objects, including the use of digital technology. A discussion of selected pieces in the upcoming sale will follow.
Sfirri is a furniture maker and sculptor who incorporates lathe-turned forms, often turned on multiple axes, in his work. His work is included in 27 public collections. Sfirri is professor emeritus at Bucks County Community College, where he ran the Fine Woodworking program from 1981 to 2017.
McCormick is an artist and a professor of jewelry/metals at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Since 1990, he has been involved with the application of computer-aided design and computer-aided making to the work of the individual craftsperson, and now much of his work is executed using digital processes such as 3D printing.
Carpenter began her career designing furniture alongside Mira Nakashima for more than seven years, after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2006.
Her work has been exhibited most notably at Moderne Gallery, Wharton Esherick Museum, Fuller Craft Museum, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Philadelphia International Airport, SOFA, Center for Art in Wood, Salon Art + Design and Design Miami.
Carpenter has been awarded five residencies in the past four years; she teaches and collaborates internationally while maintaining her studio practice at the Raymond Farm Center for Living Arts and Design in New Hope.
The auction house opens at noon Wednesday, Jan. 16. A wine and cheese reception begins at 5 p.m. The presentation will begin at 6 p.m.
Guests are invited to R.S.V.P. to raac@ragoarts.com or 609-397-9374 x119.
