What is it that draws you as a furniture maker, as a cabinet maker, to the Shaker aesthetic?
Chris Becksvoort: It is a style that is, to my way of thinking, lasting. It’s a style that fits into a variety of decors, a variety of building and architectural styles. It’s extremely functional, and for the most part very well built. There is evidence of this around the world, functionalism and utilitarianism and craftsmanship, you see that in the oriental furniture, the Japanese furniture, their joinery, for example. You see it in the Scandinavian furniture, the simplicity and the craftsmanship as well. So it’s not strictly an idea that they came up with, but it’s sort of getting back to basics and making things that last and are fully functional and are extremely useful. Gary Bryson: I’m wondering if there’s a sense for you in constructing this kind of design in that it’s a design in which the natural wood can shine through and also the craft elements of your work are very important, the way things are put together, those traditional techniques of joinery and so on. Chris Becksvoor
