The Furniture Society announces 2014 Award of Distinction Honorees

Furniture World News Desk on 4/19/2014

The Furniture Society announced that the recipients of its 2014 Award of Distinction are Bebe and Warren Johnson, owners of Pritam & Eames, an East Hampton, NY gallery that specializes in American studio furniture. The award recognizes the Johnsons' overall contribution and long standing commitment to the American studio furniture movement. Miguel Gómez-Ibáñez, president of North Bennett Street School in Boston and past President of the Furniture Society, will present the 2014 Award of Distinction to Bebe and Warren Johnson in an award ceremony during the Furniture Society's 18th annual conference that takes place at the Port Townsend School of Woodworking, Port Townsend, Washington, on June 21, 2014.

Mr. Gómez-Ibáñez said of this year's honorees, "This award is given to individuals for lifetime achievement; those who have made a difference and contributed to the field of studio furniture. I can't think of anyone more deserving than Bebe and Warren. In 1981 these two visionaries were inspired to open a gallery dedicated to studio furniture. For over 30 years they have supported, nurtured and championed not only the lives and livelihoods of the makers they represent but the field as a whole, and in doing so they have supported, nurtured and championed us all."

The Award of Distinction program was instituted in 2001 and is presented during the Furniture Society's annual conference to one or more individuals who are recognized as having had a profound impact on the field. The honorees exemplify lives devoted to study, work and craft, and to the education of others. Past honorees include Sam Maloof, James Krenov, Tage Frid, Wendell Castle, Art Espenet Carpenter, John Makepeace, Alan Peters, Jere Osgood, Jonathan Fairbanks, William Keyser, Garry Knox Bennett, Judy Kensley McKie, Tommy Simpson, Michael Fortune, Walker Weed, Wendy Maruyama, Vladimir Kagan, John Cederquist, and Roseanne Somerson.

For more information about the Furniture Society's 2014 conference program on June 19-21, please visit the FS web site: www.furnituresociety.org/FS14, or contact the Furniture Society, info@furnituresociety.org. (828) 255.1949-ph

About the Furniture Society:  The Furniture Society is a nonprofit organization founded in 1996 with the mission is to advance the art of furniture making by inspiring creativity, promoting excellence and fostering an understanding of this art and its place in society. The Furniture Society works to realize its mission through educational programs, publications, exhibitions, recognition of excellence in the field, and annual conferences. With more than 850 members from across the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia, the Furniture Society is the premiere organization of studio furniture makers and academics in the field. The membership represents a broad cross-section of furniture makers, designers, museum and gallery professionals, scholars, journalists, and others interested in the field of furniture. For more information or to become a member, please call 828-255-1949 or visit www.furnituresociety.org