John D. Mineck Furniture Fellowship
Congratulations to the 2018 Mineck Fellow, Tom Shields!
Congratulations to 2018 John D. Mineck Fellow, Tom Shields! With the help of Sarah Marriage and Miguel Gómez‐Ibáñez, the Society of Arts + Crafts recommends Tom Shields (Asheville, NC) as this year's Mineck Foundation Furniture Fellow.
Shields is at a moment in his career where he is ready to take on more within his practice. Through his writing he defined how the Mineck Furniture Fellowship would help advance his career. The materials he submitted spoke to a need that many craftspeople face: creating a working space that is cost-effective and efficient.
In line with his goal of creating a studio space, Shields is also interested in giving back to the community by getting involved in outdoor installation of public artwork, and hiring apprentices to pass on skills he has learned. It is our sincere belief that as the 2018 recipient of the Mineck Furniture Fellowship, Shields will be able to achieve his goal of creating a workshop and continuing a purposeful, driven career in furniture.
Shields wrote in his application: "This grant will afford me the actual physical space needed to make these changes as well as the mental and emotional space … to pursue all these evolutions. In the short term the money will help with establishing a secure permanent place for me to continue my studio practice. This space in the long run will allow me to focus on public work, make changes to my studio work and marketing strategy, and allow me share what I know with others. It will allow me to be a stable and secure craftsperson and focus on translating my early success into a lifetime career." See Tom's furniture.
anBalance Burnt found chairs. 47”x18”x39” 2012
anBalance Burnt found chairs. 47”x18”x39” 2012
About the Fellowship
The John D. Mineck Foundation was formed in 2007 to award charitable and educational gifts reflecting John D. Mineck’s interests and values. John was a past President of the Society of Arts and Crafts Board of Trustees and a beloved member of Boston’s cultural community. He was a friend to everyone he met and it was always important to him to stay in touch with new and old friends alike — reaching out, offering to help, being supportive and engaged.The Furniture Fellowship developed from John’s love for making fine furniture and the skill, passion, and dedication exhibited by those in the field. In an effort to support the craft that John loved and the people who make it, the John D. Mineck Foundation created this Fellowship to encourage and support a young-in-career furniture artist with the financial assistance to help them succeed in their journey. Through the generosity of the Foundation, we are able to award $25,000 annually to an artist who demonstrates skill and commitment to their craft.
This cohort represents the qualities John appreciated in the field: talent in making, exploration and growth of new ideas, and the importance of a community that supports each other. Their work demonstrates the possibilities in making — a variety of techniques, design aesthetics, and functional forms. The Society of Arts and Crafts would like to extend our gratitude to the John D. Mineck Foundation for making this Fellowship a possibility.
