With every piece I make, my goal is for it to be clearly identifiable as my own and flawlessly executed. I believe that what makes my work unique is the way I combine simple, timeless forms with materials that exhibit spectacular visual characteristics, while maintaining a degree of precision rarely seen in woodworking.

My exisitence has been devoted to exercising my creative abilities as well as developing and refining my skills as a craftsman. I find it greatly rewarding to successfully complete a challenging piece and to be consumed in the process of creating my work.

What inspires me most are ancient artifacts, architecture and industrial components. Repetition in design always gets my attention, such as the teeth on a gear or sprocket, the scales on a fish, or facets on a crystal.

My most recent works, "Artfiact Series", suggest they may have been exhumed from the ruins of an ancient civilization, posiibly made by an ancient craftsman to glorify his Gods or King.

 
   
 
Background -
    Exhibitions -  
 
1986 - 1989 -
Cabinet Maker's Apprentice  
SOFA Chicago 1999, Zimmer Gallery
 
 
1989 -
Opened Furniture & Cabinet Studio  
Forms in Wood 1999, Soc. of Arts & Crafts, Boston, MA,
 
 
1994 -
Began experimenting with Box making,Knife making and Model making  
SOFA New York, 2000, Del Mano Gallery
 
 
1995 -
Began Woodturning  
Horizons 2000, Brookfield Craft Center, CT
 
 
1997 -
Exhibited in First Craft Show  
Small Treasures 2000, Del Mano Gallery, LA
 
   
Turned Wood 2000, Del Mano Gallery, LA
 
       
Snyderman Gallery Invitational 2001,Philadelphia, PA
 
       
Innovations -Perspectives in Turning 2005, Brookfield Craft Center, CT
 
     
Innovations -Perspectives in Turning 2005, Woodturning Center, Philadelphia, PA
 
  Shows Attended -    
In Balance, Wood and Metal, Woodturning Center, May-July 2009
 
 
1999, 2004 -
Atlanta ACC  
 
 
1998 - 2012 -
Baltimore ACC  
Awards -
 
 
1997, 1998 -
Designer Arts NYC  
Wharton Esherick Award 2012 - Philadelphia Museum of Art Cratft Show
 
       
Guilford Handcraft Expo, Booth Award 1997
 
 
1999, 2000, 2001, 2004 -
Paradise City Arts, Northampton, MA  
Baltimore ACC, Honorable Mention 2000
 
 
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009 -
Philadelphia Museum of Art  
Westchester Craft Show Award of Excellence2001
 
 
1998, 1999 -
Springfield ACC  
ACE Craft Show, Best in Wood Award 2001
 
 
1998, 1999, 2001, 2004 -
Washington DC Craft Show  
Baltimore ACC, Honorable Mention 2002
 
 
1998, 1999, 2001 - 2004, 2008, 2009 -
Westchester Craft Show  
Westchester Craft Show, Blue Ribbon, First Place 2003
 
 
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 -
American Craft Expo, Evanston, IL  
AAW 2010 Symposium, Award of excellence
 
 
2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008-
Smithsonian Craft Show  
 
 
2000 - 2004 -
Crafts at the Castle, Boston, MA  
Publications -
 
       
100 Artists of New England - 2011 - Schiffer Publishing
 
       
Conversations with Wood, the collection of Ruth and David Waterbury - 2011
 
       
American Woodturner Magazine, Summer '08, Volume 23, "What Collectors Want"
 
     
Preview Connecticut - December '04
 
     
"500 Wood Bowls", Lark Books, 2004, pgs.82, 360 & 395
 
       
Woodturning Magazine - December 2000
 
       
 
           
           
           

About Mark -

Mark Nantz, born 1969, currently resides with his family in Colchester, Connecticut. While Mark does occasionally participate in Gallery exhibits, he has been primarily showing and selling his work from both his website and at prestigious contemporary craft shows such as the Baltimore ACC Show, the Smithsonian Craft Show and the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. He works full time as an artist and when he is not in his workshop he enjoys kayaking and fishing on the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound, as well as photography, gardening and spending time with his children, Phoebe and Zander.

 

Mark Nantz....608 Westchester Rd....Colchester, Ct 06415....860-267-8853.... mark@marknantz.com
site design © - r.j. phil
all photographs © mark nantz, unless otherwise noted