Lynn Szymanski
Lynn is an artist, designer, educator and administrator working to promote hands-on learning programs for all ages. She has over 20 year of experience as a furniture maker having earned her MFA in Furniture Design at San Diego State University. Her work is nationally recognized, designing and building both speculative and commissioned work. In 2004, she received a grant to study at the Vitra Design Museum in Lessac, France. She is the 2009 recipient of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Artist Advancement Grant which allowed for greater sculptural exploration. Examples of her work have appeared in Maine Home & Design, Woodwork Magazine and Lark Books. Her volunteer work includes two terms on The Furniture Society Board of Trustees serving on various committees including education and communication where, she was editor of the organization's newsletter, Furniture Matters, for five years and served as interim executive director. Lynn currently works out of the Salmon Falls Mills in Rollinsford, NH.
Artist Statement
Although trained as a fine furniture maker, my work has always been more poetic than practical, finding beauty in imperfection and comfort in the detritus of the past. I am inspired by the Modernist language of simplicity, focusing on small details, imperfection and nuance. Wavering lines, asymmetrical forms and slumping shapes are all part of this vocabulary.
Carving and shaping are important techniques as they allow for a more intuitive work process. Surface treatment has been, and continues to be a focus. Using milk paint and acrylic, I often layer similar hues, sanding through to reveal the archeology of the activity. These manipulated surfaces, when combined with the natural grain of wood, put each material in a different context that I hope brings the ordinary and overlooked to the fore.
Lynn Szymanski's Work
Lynn Szymanski
Lynn is an artist, designer, educator and administrator working to promote hands-on learning programs for all ages. She has over 20 year of experience as a furniture maker having earned her MFA in Furniture Design at San Diego State University. Her work is nationally recognized, designing and building both speculative and commissioned work. In 2004, she received a grant to study at the Vitra Design Museum in Lessac, France. She is the 2009 recipient of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Artist Advancement Grant which allowed for greater sculptural exploration. Examples of her work have appeared in Maine Home & Design, Woodwork Magazine and Lark Books. Her volunteer work includes two terms on The Furniture Society Board of Trustees serving on various committees including education and communication where, she was editor of the organization's newsletter, Furniture Matters, for five years and served as interim executive director. Lynn currently works out of the Salmon Falls Mills in Rollinsford, NH.
Artist Statement
Although trained as a fine furniture maker, my work has always been more poetic than practical, finding beauty in imperfection and comfort in the detritus of the past. I am inspired by the Modernist language of simplicity, focusing on small details, imperfection and nuance. Wavering lines, asymmetrical forms and slumping shapes are all part of this vocabulary.
Carving and shaping are important techniques as they allow for a more intuitive work process. Surface treatment has been, and continues to be a focus. Using milk paint and acrylic, I often layer similar hues, sanding through to reveal the archeology of the activity. These manipulated surfaces, when combined with the natural grain of wood, put each material in a different context that I hope brings the ordinary and overlooked to the fore.
