Museum explores the 40+ year history of the School, while showcasing numerous examples of fine furniture and crafted wood arts

Ukiah’s Grace Hudson Museum will open its newest special exhibition, Deep Roots, Spreading Branches: Fine Woodworking of the Krenov School, on Saturday, March 30, and will celebrate with a publicly-accessible reception on Friday, April 5 from 5 to 8pm. The show will run through August 18.

What began as the College of the Redwoods Fine Woodworking program, under the guidance of master furniture maker and author James Krenov, evolved into the Krenov School of Fine Woodworking at Mendocino College. The exhibition will look at the over 40-year history of this internationally-renowned school, located in Ft. Bragg, Mendocino County, and will feature pieces by over 40 different woodworkers, including James Krenov, graduates of the program, and past and present faculty.

In addition to learning about Krenov’s ideas and principles of woodworking, which became the foundation of the school and its curriculum, museum visitors will be able to find out about how students experienced the program and where it led them after they graduated. An oral history video station will allow one to hear directly from former students and instructors. Visitors will also be able to dive deeper into woodworking techniques through the use of interactive elements.

In creating the exhibition, the Grace Hudson Museum has spent the past 18 months working closely with an advisory committee comprised of current Krenov School Program Director Laura Mays, former student and retired 30 year staff member David Welter, former student and Krenov Foundation board member Kerry Marshall, and Tina Krenov, daughter of the master wood craftsman.

The Museum has planned a number of programs to accompany the exhibition. These include a virtual program with Krenov biographer Brendan Gaffney on April 18 at 6pm; a tools sharpening workshop to be held at the Krenov School on May 25 at 1:30pm; a virtual panel discussion featuring Krenov instructors Creighton Hoke, David Welter, and Laura Mays on July 13 at 2pm; and a virtual panel discussion with former Krenov students Taimi Barty, Tim Coleman, John Shaw, and Phoebe Kuo on August 4 at 1pm. The Museum also encourages visitors to see the Krenov School’s annual spring student show at Highlight Gallery in Mendocino Village running from May 18 to 27.

Deep Branches, Spreading Roots has been made possible by the generosity of The Krenov Foundation, The Sun House Guild, Grace Hudson Museum Members, and Mendocino College.