August 27, 1998

Media Contact: Jose A. Alvarez (619) 594-2585

 

SDSU Studio Furniture Designers to Exhibit in Boston

San Diego State University is challenging the East Coast dominance of the field of furniture making. Furniture Design Professor, Wendy Maruyama and 18 alumni and students from the Furniture Design Program at SDSU will exhibit their work in Boston, Massachusetts, beginning September 5th.

The exhibition entitled "Studio Furniture: San Diego State University" is sponsored by The Society of Arts and Crafts, America,s Oldest Non-Profit Organization, and will be on display until November 1st at the Society,s two Boston galleries. The work being exhibited ranges from functional to sculptural, with an emphasis on carved and painted surfaces, and the integration of found materials.

SDSU was the first of two schools West of the Mississippi to establish a Master in Fine Arts degree in furniture design. Professor Maruyama feels the up-coming exhibition will increase its visibility.

"The West Coast woodworking field is no longer being shunned as being funky, and with no traditional backgrounds in furniture building skills.

In the past ten years, the furniture program at San Diego state has burgeoned," explained Professor Maruyama adding that " we have grown to be known as the most innovative and creative furniture program that seeks to combine the issues of fine arts with the issues of function and craftsmanship. This makes us a truly unique program that sets us apart from others."

 

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For more information contact José A. Alvarez at (619) 594-2585 or Ivy Chen at (617) 266-1810 ext. 12.