Natural furniture of Steve Winchester to be featured at Craftsmen Gallery

"Inspired by Nature, built by Hand" —beginning August 1,the League of NH Craftsmen Gallery will featurethe fine furniture and woodworking of Steve Winchester of Barnstead.

Working with the natural forms found in the woods Winchester has been making furniturefor over thirty years. His favorite building materials are curly maple, birdseye, giant oak burls, and birch bark. He even incorporates moss into some of his work. At 16 he answered an ad for seasonal laborers in the carpentry trade and so began his career and love of working with wood.

Winchester creates marvelous pieces that look like they might have 'grown' right where they are. Twigs and birchbark embellish huge entertainment centers, kitchen cabinets and porch furniture.

Using woods purchased from small independent sawmills he lives by good old Yankeeresourcefulness — "my ethic is to use local renewable, non- rainforest material. I use things that other people would throw away".

"Inspired by Nature, built by Hand" will showcase many pieces of Steve's work. The show will run Aug. 1 to 31. The League Gallery is located at 279 DW Hwy. Meredith. For more information about this exhibit, classes and demonstrations, please call 279-7920.

The League of NH Craftsmen is a non-profit organizationdedicated to preserving NH's fine craft.