Fine Woodworking’s Christian Becksvoort recently became one of the first artists in his home state of Maine to receive a new statewide award honoring achievement in craft. The Maine Crafts Association named Becksvoort among four artists to receive the Master Crafts Artist Award. The awards honor excellence in craftsmanship, inspired design and a “singular voice” in an artist’s body of work.
Becksvoort, who lives and works in New Gloucester, Maine, has been a furniture maker for more tha 45 years and has authored dozens of articles for the magazine. His furniture has a contemporary character deeply influenced by Shaker design. He is the author of The Shaker Legacy (The Taunton Press, 2000), and has done restoration work for the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village not far from his home.
To view our gallery of Becksvoort’s work, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page. You can also visit his website by clicking here.
The awards – the first in the MCA’s history – were presented during the association’s annual dinner last month. The Maine Crafts Association is a nonprofit organization that promotes the work of craft artists.
Comments
Congratulations! Having worked with Becksvoort on a number of occasions I can definitely say he truly is a master craftsman, and the honor is well-deserved. And the state of Maine is one of the most progressive in terms of honoring, promoting, and keeping its craftspeople. Kudos to them as well.
Two facts you might now know about Christian Becksvoort:
1. He has a great design eye, and his portfolio extends well beyond just Shaker reproductions.
2. He is also the author of In Harmony with Wood, an out of print (so get it wherever you can) book that gives a comprehensive look at wood from tree to plank and beyond.
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