Craft artists sometimes apply
their skills and imagination
to the creation of beautiful handcrafted places for
living. The artist forms both the
structural and decorative elements
of these special surroundings, most
often drawing upon local materials
and symbolism. Working alone
or with others to create such “If I can’t make something beautiful a special place, the craft artist out of what I find in my backyard,
conveys the human spirit and expresses the essence of the I had better not make anything. locale. —Wharton Esheri”ck
Timberline Lodge is one
such place. Created by hundreds
of craftspeople in 1936 and 1937,
the building and its contents are
breathtakingly beautiful. Commissioned by the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) under
President Franklin D. Roosevelt,
Timberline Lodge reveals the spirit
of cooperation and collaboration of
many different craftspeople, including woodworkers, blacksmiths, and
weavers, who worked together to
create this unique ski resort.
Built at the foot of Mount Hood
in Oregon, Timberline Lodge utilized the talents of local artists
who crafted native materials into
the building’s interior and exterior
furnishings. From forged wrought-iron hinges to woven draperies and
hooked rugs, each item, whether
large or small, contributes to the
spirit of this special place. The
imagery in these artifacts also
reflects the surrounding flora and
fauna of Mount Hood.
Wharton Esherick, who in 1926
began building his house and studio
on a hillside in Paoli, Pennsylvania,
worked alone. He used his skills as
a woodworker to turn native timber
into organically styled structures
and imaginative and functional
objects for his home.
Working with the natural lines
and textures of locally harvested
trees, Esherick began making
wooden trays and bowls that were
incorporated into daily use by
friends and family. He eventually
moved to larger furniture, such
as a dining room table with
built-in salad bowls and the
free-form spiral staircase that
is a focal point in his house.
Calling his home his autobi-
ography, the artist loved to
include unusual details and materi-
als into his living space, including
a chair with hammer handle legs.
Over the next forty years, Esherick
continued to add to the building,
incorporating organic architectural
forms, including a nonlinear roof
ridge. Now a museum, this extraor-
dinary place reflects the talent and
spirit of a craftsperson who cel-
ebrated the importance of the hand-
made.
