Commission: Joe Downing Museum

In the Spring of 2008, the Jerry Baker Foundation commissioned Mark to create two distinctive benches to complete the Joe Downing Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  The benches were to be a calming, thoughtful presence in each of the two main galleries at the museum. 

Composed of local black walnut, ebonized walnut, and bronze, the ‘Spring Bench’ is 18”x34”x90” and is an ebb and flow of book matched wood divided by an ebonized bridge.  The ‘River Bench’ is composed completely of black walnut and is based on a single curve used in a random stacked form.  Both benches are finished with boiled linseed oil.

Along with the life’s work of Joe Downing, the museum also houses Mark’s ‘Museum Bench’ (built of ash, walnut, mahogany, and maple 18”x60”x16” 2007) and the ‘Well-Rooted Table’ (built of found cedar root and walnut 30”x27”x13” 2008)

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