Celebrating An Artist’s Work pe ESN ee hh REP (NAPSA)—Seeing beauty in everyday objects—even salt and pepper shakers— could gain you a place at a famousartist’s table. Wharton Esherick was a painter, furniture maker and wood sculptor cited by the national art and design community as the “Dean ofAmerican Craftsmen.” The studio home he designed is itself considered a work of art, and open to the public. Now called the Wharton Esherick Museum, the house sits atop Valley Forge Mountain and is largely considered his finest work. Each item inside— from the salad bowls to the spiral staircase—was made by Esherick. Furniture makers such as Wendell Castle and Sam Maloof credit Esherick with inspiring them. Today, an annual competition encourages artisans, craftspeople and hobbyists: The Wharton Esherick Museum Thematic Woodworking Competition and Exhibition. This year’s theme challenges participants to create a salt and/or pepper mill in a way reminiscentof E:sherick’s designs. Deadline for submission is July 1. An exhibition of entries will be held from September 9 through December 31. The Wharton Esherick Museum is located in southeastern Pennsylvania 20 miles west of downtown Philadelphia. For more information, visit www.valleyforge.org or call (610) 644-5822 for museum information.
