On Episode 29 of Why Make? we talk with Michael Puryear a consummate New York based furniture maker with an elegant understated aesthetic.

Please join us on one makers journey as we find out what inspires and motivates Michael Puryear.

On Episode 28 of the Why Make? podcast we talk with artist Maggie Sasso, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin based maker producing maritime influenced installation work.

Maggie’s conceptual bodies of work examines material culture in relation to our collective past using comedy and levity to navigate through the harsh realities of modern life. Although Maggie has a background in contemporary craft, including woodworking and metal smithing, most of her current work is in fiber… resulting from an a-ha moment she had after raising a hand sewn signal flag over her then home in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Journey with us as we talk with Maggie about childhood plays performed for an audience of trees, studying with her father, maker and educator Paul Sasso, and even her husband, Ben Jones, crash testing speedboats into logs.

So pull on your life preserver pants as we meditate on the horizon line and sail through the vast creative ocean of Maggie Sasso!

Find out more about Maggie and her work… www.maggiesasso.com

In Episode 27 of Why Make? we talk with filmmaker John Nakashima and discuss his new documentary George Nakashima, Woodworker about his uncle, George Nakashima

John unfolds about the making of his new documentary, his life long relationship with his uncle George and the 20 year journey he has taken in making this stunning film.

So grab a hand plane or a chisel, pop in your earbuds and get to work on that air dried slab of walnut you just acquired… and hold on for a Why Make? history lesson!

Enjoy.

Discover more about John Nakashima and his documentary here https://nakashimadocumentary.com

Learn about the George Nakashima Peace Foundation here https://nakashimafoundation.org

See George’s work here https://nakashimawoodworkers.com

In Episode 26, our 2021 Season Introduction, we take a look back at the dumpster fire that was 2020 and the multitude of ways we were able stay healthy, talking and connected. We look back at about some of the wonderful conversations we had last year and also give a preview of the upcoming episodes planned for 2021. We also dig into a couple of the Why Make? side projects on the drawing board! Hang on as we take a bumpy ride back through the last year and swerve confidently into the Why Make? future.

Episode 25 of Why Make? is a Bonus Make! as we talk with Greenville, SC artist Daniel Marinelli about creating the new landmark sign at Penland School of Craft.

With butterflies in his stomach about creating his largest commission to date, Marinelli goes into detail about the design and fabrication of this incredible sign and the thrill of a job well done!

Don’t adjust the kerning on this episodes layout, Daniel has already done it for you… so just sit back, listen and enjoy the latest Bonus Make!

Find out more about Daniel and his work at okgoods.co and danielmarinelli.com

And discover Penland School of Crafts too!

Why graduate school? Episode 23 of Why Make? is a Bonus Make! and we talk with artist and educator Cory Robinson about his decision to go to grad school at San Diego State University in their Furniture Design and Woodworking program and how he chose which school and program to attend.

Continuing our conversation from Episode 22 we have an honest discussion about what can reasonably be accomplished in a graduate program and “get schooled” by Cory Robinson. We also talk about many of the amazing alum that have come through the SDSU Furniture program including Mia Hall, Russell Baldon, Barbara Holmes, Christine Lee, Lyn Syzmanski, Kim Winkle, Richard Ford and former program instructor, Wendy Maruyama.

Enjoy this exciting Bonus Make!

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Find out more about Cory and his work at www.coryrobinsonstudio.com

and the Furniture Program at SDSU here www.sdsufurniture.org

On Episode 22 of Why Make? we talk with Cory Robinson, an artist and educator, who teaches at the Herron School of the Arts in Indianapolis Indiana.

Cory grew up in small town Indiana and after traveling and schooling in other parts of the world returned to his alma mater to become an educator. Robinson’s work encompasses painting, sculpture, furniture and design. In this episode we discuss what it means to be a Studio Furniture Maker and the impact of Collectable Design on the practice of furniture making.

Please hang out with us on this episode as we get nerdy discussing with Cory about how the art history and furniture world’s coexist.

Find out more about Cory and his work at www.coryrobinsonstudio.com

Sylvie Rosenthal is a Madison, Wisconsin based artist and educator. She maintains a studio practice making commission furniture, work for online sales, and fantastic genre challenging sculpture dealing with the intersecting flight patterns of the histories of trade, hybridity, materiality, queer theory, and the natural world. 

On Episode 21 of Why Make? we discuss her fascinating 2018 show at the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum in Milwaukee called “House Of Risk” and the implications of taking risks in ones work. We also talk about the way in which Sylvie seeks to put multiple layers of understanding and interpretation in her work but ultimately leaves it to the viewer to determine meaning.

Take a chance, roll the dice and join us for the next hour as we discuss risk with Sylvie Rosenthal!

Find out more about Sylvie and her work at www.sylvierosenthal.com

Straight from the editing room workbench we are continuing with our newest feature in the Why Make? Bonus Make! These are pieces and parts from our initial conversation with Adrien Segal that didn’t make the final cut of Episode 19 but still make for some very compelling discussion about her life and artwork.

Please enjoy Episode 20, our second Bonus Make! We talk with Adrien about her time spent as an ‘artist at sea’ aboard the RV Falkor off the coast of Fiji and some of her other geographically inspired adventuring.

Find out more about Adrien and her work at www.adriensegal.com

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