STL244: Laura Mays–The Inquisitive Furniture Maker

Shop Talk Live · 2 Jul 2021 · 1h 10m

What this episode covers

Laura Mays, director of The Krenov School of Fine Woodworking, discusses her journey from architecture to becoming a furniture maker and her current role leading the school. She details her design philosophy, which blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary art, focusing on specific works like her 'wingback' chairs, series of boxes, and a Bluetooth speaker housed in a complex wooden box. Mays also addresses the school's efforts to increase diversity through the Krenov Foundation and the 'Making a Seat at the Table' initiative, highlighting the challenges of inclusivity in a historically male-dominated field.

Mentioned

Companies
The Krenov School of Fine Woodworking, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, The Krenov Foundation, IKEA
Also
James Krenov, Morton Nestrick, Natalie de Pasquier, Sean Scully, Nancy Hiller, Christina Madsen, Yuri Kobayashi, Yvonne Nicer, John Makepeace, John Schmidt, Memphis, Fine Woodworking

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