When John Gernandt first meets a new customer, the first question is about function.  Where will this piece of furniture be used?  How will it be used?  He asks what will be put in the drawers, and how high the shelves need to be for display. Then he imagines what he wants to make.

His art furniture is inspired by a poster above his bench with a quote by Albert Einstein "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

Following the pathway established by both his great-grandfather and grandfather, he’s been building furniture for thirty years. Making furniture has widened his perspective on art history and his appreciation for the furniture masters of the past.

Were they artists or craftsmen? Most of us think of furniture makers as craftsmen yet furniture making encompasses the skills of design, engineering, and imagination. Craftsmanship is what allows him to make what he’s imagined. Each of his pieces is carefully drafted and modeled; he questions throughout the process if there is anything from the past to bring forward into a piece of furniture being made in the 21st century. Engineering and joinery make his furniture into a lasting piece. Craftsmanship and finishing identifies each piece as one of a kind.

To go to John's gallery and see some of his furniture, click here.