After 9-11, people were longing for authentic furniture designs
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Furniture designer and builder Christopher Kurtz says, "I once thought that to be a designer, you had to have a company like Herman Miller or Vitra behind you. But after 9/11, people were longing for something authentic." He found, however, "working from my barn was a way into the market," as he tells the Wall St. Journal. His work includes walnut and bronze, among other species.

Christopher Kurtz, 40, grew up in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. After studying sculpture at the Kansas City Art Institute and Landscape Architecture at Harvard University he received a BFA in sculpture from The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in Alfred, New York.

After college, he went on to work as the studio assistant to artist Martin Puryear. Here Kurtz refined his woodworking skills and has since gained national attention with his sculpture and is in several public and private collections. Kurtz currently serves as an advisor for New York Foundation For the Arts in the field of crafts. In 2005 Christopher set up his studio in the Hudson Valley of New York State. Kurtz has always had a passion for furniture and began experimenting with some designs. In 2008 he expanded his studio practice to include furniture design. His work is also featured at the site of E.R. Butler, premium quality custom hardware manufacturer of fine architectural, builders’ and cabinetmakers’ Early American, Federal and Georgian period hardware for doors, windows and fine furniture.

One of Kurtz's projects, Singularity, revolves around abstract wood forms. It is captured in a digital publication available at online publisher Issu.

His website is www.christopherkurtz.net

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About the author
Bill Esler | ConfSenior Editor

Bill wrote for WoodworkingNetwork.com, FDMC and Closets & Organized Storage magazines. 

Bill's background includes more than 10 years in print manufacturing management, followed by more than 30 years in business reporting on industrial manufacturing in the forest products industries, including printing and packaging at American Printer (Features Editor) and Graphic Arts Monthly (Editor in Chief) magazines; and in secondary wood manufacturing for WoodworkingNetwork.com.

Bill was deeply involved with the launches of the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, and the 40 Under 40 Awards programs. He currently reports on technology and business trends and develops conference programs.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Bill supports efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in the manufacturing sectors, including 10 years on the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation; six years with the U.S. WoodLinks; and currently on the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee. He is also supports the Greater West Town Training Partnership Woodworking Program, which has trained more than 950 adults for industrial wood manufacturing careers. 

Bill volunteers for Foinse Research Station, a biological field station staddling the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, one of more than 200 members of the Organization of Biological Field Stations.