Close Menu
    Monday, June 30
    Subscribe
    Arts

    Minnesota woodworkers display their art in EP

    Vijay B. DixitBy 2 Mins Read
    Cecilia Schiller’s “Puppet Master” is among the showcased items at the Northern Woods Exhibition in Eden Prairie Center mall this weekend. The piece pays tribute to the art of puppetry and the skills it entails, drawing inspiration from Schiller’s experience crafting and performing with puppets. Photos and video by Vijay Dixit

    The Minnesota Woodworkers Guild, comprised of professional and amateur woodworkers, is hosting its annual Northern Woods Exhibition at the Eden Prairie Center mall this weekend.

    The exhibition began on Thursday and runs through Sunday, April 30, featuring guild members’ work and 14 award categories with over $4,000 in cash and prizes. One category includes “Best First Time in Show.”

    Admission to the event is free.

    The woodworkers will continue demonstrating their art until 8 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

    Advertisement
    Ad for Washburn McReavy

    The guild has 900 members hailing from various backgrounds. Among them, EPLN spoke to Ed Neu, the guild’s president, who is a semi-professional furniture maker and retired mechanical engineer, and Charles Osville Finne, one of the exhibition’s organizers, who is both a woodworker and a practicing surgeon.

    Displayed below are photos and a video featuring select pieces from the exhibition. The video showcases Cecilia Schiller’s ‘Puppet Master’ in action.

    For more information on the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild, visit its website at www.MNWWG.org.

    Thomas Menke designed and built the chairs, including the one pictured, for Urness Recital Hall at St. Olaf College. The chair needed to stack five high to facilitate flexible seating arrangements in the mid-century modern 300-seat facility.
    A picture of the chairs Thomas Menke designed for Urness Recital Hall at St. Olaf College.
    “Falling Blossoms,” a vase crafted out of maple by Richard Tendick. This tall vase required a specially-made, long wood-turning tool to reach its base.
    Bob Paulsen’s miniature version of the Mill City Museum.
    Stu Fox’s “Sit a Spell” bench is made of walnut and features a woven Danish paper cord seat.

    Editor’s note: Vijay Dixit is the Chairman of Shreya R. Dixit Memorial Foundation, a 501-c-3 nonprofit advocating distraction-free driving. He is also a board member of Eden Prairie Local News and a member of the EPLN Development Committee and Journalism team.

    Advertisement
    Ad for EPLN: New Voices, Vital Stories. We've welcomed two new journalists, Rachel and Maddie. Help us support the next generation of local journalists. Invest in Local News. Donate Today

    Comments
    We offer several ways for our readers to provide feedback. Your comments are welcome on our social media posts (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn). We also encourage Letters to the Editor; submission guidelines can be found on our Contact Us page. If you believe this story has an error or you would like to get in touch with the author, please connect with us.

    Be Informed
    Sign up for the FREE email newsletter from EPLN
    Subscribe
    Share.

    More to READ