MIDLAND.- “Furniture should last as long as it takes a tree to grow,” declares Berthold Schwaiger, master craftsman and founder of the Chicago Bauhaus Academy in Chicago, Illinois. Best known for his elegantly designed wooden furniture, this award-winning artist will have his works on display through September 10 in the galleries of the Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art at the Midland Center for the Arts. As practical as it is beautiful, his work has been commissioned for many homes and businesses across the country and hasbeen displayed in numerous art galleries. This exhibit will showcase nearly 50 pieces, several designed specifically for this event. Those who appreciate unique studio art furniture of unparalleled quality will not want to miss this opportunity to view Schwaiger’s artistry. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and free for ABDM and FOC members.Schwaiger’s approach to design often incorporates influences from nature and mathematical principles.

One famous example is his Fibonacci Framework Chest, which was designed and built using proportions based on the Fibonacci Series (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21…), a sequence of numbers that identifies mathematical patterns in various forms of nature, such as the branching patterns of leaves in grasses and flowers, seeds on a raspberry and spiral patterns in horns and shells. His adherence to design principles that extol individuality, yet align with nature, is an ethic that was echoed by Midland native and architect, Alden B. Dow (1904-1983). When Schwaiger toured the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio in 2002, he was struck by the similarity of his own design philosophy to that of Alden B. Dow, specifically the emphasis on the importance of the individual, a high standard of quality and integrating the needs of the individual with the natural beauty of the piece. In addition, both artists subscribe strongly to the traditions of their respective crafts, yet both embrace and incorporate contemporary influences into their designs. “Schwaiger’s organic style complements Alden B. Dow’s style of architectural design seamlessly,” said Bruce Winslow, artistic director for the Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art. “It seems fitting and natural to display Schwaiger’s furniture at the Midland Center for the Arts, a space that itself was designed by Dow.”

The title of the exhibit, “Lasting Values,” highlights the durability of not only the furniture, but also the principles of design to which Schwaiger subscribes. Each of his pieces is built to last and has a personality all its own. Whenever possible, he lets the physical characteristics of the wood determine the style of the piece of furniture in order to take advantage of the wood’s natural beauty. Even the joinery is designed to be a decorative component of the furniture so that it lends beauty along with stability and strength. Since Schwaiger avoids the use of rainforest materials, most of his work is in North American hardwoods – maple, cherry and walnut – and they are all air-dried to maintain the wood’s natural flexibility. He prefers not to use any varnish or finishes on the wood and instead sands by hand to produce the furniture’s characteristic satin finish.

In addition to founding the Bauhaus Apprenticeship Institute (BHAI), a not-for-profit organization, Schwaiger is the founder of the Chicago Furniture Society, an educational forum for dedicated woodworkers, and the Artisan’s Gallery, which features work by Schwaiger, members of the Chicago Furniture Society and other artists. The BHAI is a “haven for woodworking enthusiasts” and is one of the few apprenticeship programs in the country. It does not charge tuition, nor do its students receive a salary; instead, apprentices learn by building custom-ordered pieces while being tutored by Schwaiger.