Kira Cummings
Wood

Kira Cummings is a multi-medium artist adept in an array of disciplines; painting, pyrography, photography, videography, graphic design, and animation. A Fine Art graduate of Jackson State University with a Minor in Graphic Design, Cummings holds a membership in the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi for pyrography. Cummings is the Creative Director for The Works where she creates video and animation for musicians, interview programs, and corporate promotions as well as producing live events.

“My work explores the intersection of history, fame, and craftsmanship through the medium of woodburning. By creating portraits of famous individuals, I aim to capture not only their likeness but also the deeper essence of their public personas—immortalizing their impact in a way that is both tactile and timeless.”

“Woodburning, or pyrography, allows me to engage with the subject in a deliberate and thoughtful process. The slow, methodical application of heat to wood contrasts with the often fleeting nature of celebrity, grounding these figures in a raw, organic material that evokes permanence. The grain of the wood interacts with each stroke of heat, adding a unique texture that mirrors the complexity of the human experience, suggesting that behind the polished images of fame are nuanced, multifaceted lives.”

Gary H. Rock
Wood

In 1977 I bought my first lathe a Sears’s 12-inch wood lathe. I concentrated on turning spindles from 2-inch to 12- inch diameter from Oak to Maple. The bowls at that time were mostly small up to 12-inch in diameter from Oak to Pine to Maple. 

By 1996 I had worn out my Sears lathe which had been rebuilt twice. I then decided that I would move up to a big lathe, which I bought an Oneway Lathe. With this new lathe I can now turn larger spindles and bowls. Now I turn soft to hard woods from Ponderosa Pine to Ambrosia Maple, Purple Heart and other exotic woods from Central America, South America to African hard woods. The wood can be solid stock to distressed stock, (that is wood that has checks and voids) as well as knots or all three together. In the spaces or voids created by nature or bugs, I like to inlay and or fill with brass, turquoise, color filling or a different wood into the turnings.

In 1977 Gary Rock began his woodworking craft in a 6ft. by 6ft. shop that eventually grew to 20ft. by 30ft. His early woodworking ranged from making toys, to furniture repair and along with custom wood turning. At that time Gary started out with a Sears 12 inch wood lathe. He concentrated on turning spindles and bowls. The spindles were Oak to Maple anywhere from 2 inch to 12 inch diameter. The sizes of the bowls at that time were mostly small. Gary had not started experimenting with size, color and different typed of wood at that time. 

By 1986 Gary was running a full woodworking shop along with working a full time job at one of the areas heavy industry plants. In 1987 Gary bought a home in Westlake where he continues custom woodwork and turning on a small scale.

Then in 1996 Gary built another large wood shop. In the years following, he had worn out his Sears lathe. It was rebuilt in 2000 and used it full time until 2003. At that time Gary moved up to a Oneway lathe. Over the lathe bed he can turn a 20 inch bowl and up to 53 inch long spindle. On the out board end of the lathe he can turn a bowl up to 44 inches wide.

He now turns soft woods along with hard woods from Southern Yellow Pine to Ambrosia Maple, from solid stock to distressed stock, (that is wood that has checks and voids) as well as knots or all three together. Gary turns small bowls to large deep hollow turnings. Over the years he has developed an eye for looking at the wood and figuring out what would look good coming out of that piece of wood. He likes to turn distressed wood where other turners prefer to turn solid stock. In these voids , checks, knots, etc. that are in the wood Gary li8kes to inlay and fill with brass, copper, turquoise, pewter, aluminum, a colored filling or different woods.

Gary is a self taught wood worker and turner. After twenty seven years, he had taken the opportunity to takes classes in Provo, Utah under Dale Nish, Rex Burningham, Kip Christensen, Mike Mahoney, Lane Phillips, Clead Christansen and continues to take lessons from other well known turners to increase his knowledge of turning.

Gary Rock resides in Westlake, La., where he turns wood daily. He is a member of the Louisiana Crafts Guild, Gulf Coast Wood Turners and Acadiana Woodturners this also gives him the opportunity to expand his knowledge and skill. His work can be found in the Louisiana Craft Guild Galleries: San Sauci in Lafayette, soon to be in River oaks in Alexandria, also at times in the Artisans Gallery in Lake Charles, Louisiana. 

Arthur McViccar
Wood

Gary Schlegel
Wood, Furniture

I build custom cabinetry and furniture, with an emphasis on Windsor Chairs, using the same chair building methods that have been in use for over 200 years. Seats are hand carved from a solid slab of pine. Maple logs are split for legs, bent backs and spindles from green oak logs. All shaped with hand tools, steamed and formed. The final step is a hand rubbed milk paint finish.

I have lived in South Louisiana for 40+ years, practicing woodworking for 35 plus years. I attended several woodworking schools and seminars around the country and learned the craft of Windsor Chair building from Curtis Buchanan and Elia Bizzarri, two of the best in the country.

David Bergeron
Wood

When New Orleans-area artist and craftsman David Bergeron sets out to create a frame, piece of furniture or other work, it’s not just the finished product that’s meaningful to him, but also the origin of its materials. All of Bergeron’s pieces are constructed with locally salvaged lumber— literal pieces of the rich legacy of southeastern Louisiana. So it’s no surprise that Bergeron’s own roots have had such a vital impact on his craft.

Born the son of an iron worker and seamstress in 1972 in Marrero, Louisiana—a suburb of New Orleans—Bergeron was immersed from a very early age not just in creative influences but a spirit of ingenuity. “My grandfather, a self-taught carpenter, gardener and outdoorsman, built the house he later raised his family in as a teenager with little education.”

Bergeron followed his grandfather’s example by forging his own path, combining his love of Old World craftsmanship with a deep desire to make a dent in the waste stream. Influenced by southern folk, outsider and tramp art styles, and seeing a ready supply of materials in overflowing dumpsters of lumber from renovations in and around New Orleans, he created a style that juxtaposes actual pieces of New Orleans history with fresh patterns and design.

In 1999, after some prodding from friends and family, Bergeron began marketing his work, which has since sold in various retail locations, galleries, art shows and festivals. He also has framed countless pieces of folk and outsider art for private collections worldwide.

Susie Blyskal
Wood, Fiber, Jewelry

Fur mobiles for my kindergarten classroom ceiling; smocked appliqués for our daughter’s school wardrobe; frog, pig, and crawfish clothespin crafts for Girl Scouts; a mobile mummy case for the Egyptian Exhibit at the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum; – there have been many varied outlets for my CREATING!

 A military family childhood and a much-traveled married life have taken me from Washington State to the Philippines and from the University of Miami to Louisiana State University.  My CREATING reflects native and ancient styles enhanced by contemporary and dramatic structures.

Nature has always been very important to me; from the pearl that is my signature bead to the places I like to go for inspiration. Through the years of my CREATING, I have enjoyed the diversity of people as much as the variety of materials and mediums. This all contributes to the one-of-a-kind pieces that I am CREATING.

Mark Gustafson
Wood, Metal

I am a designer for an Engineering company. My interest in art began in as a child in north Texas, at the age of 10 I took oil painting lessons. I’ve been creating art since then. Now I carve with a chainsaw, grinder and sander. The size and shape of the reclaimed wood I use sparks the final vision of my design. I’m fortunate to live in an area with an abundance of raw materials. I am 58 now and would like to carve and paint full time when I retire.

I enjoy wood carving with power tools (sander, grinder, chainsaw). I use recycled wood that otherwise would be burned or put in the trash. Some of my work includes large and small totem poles, fish, and work similar to what you would see in ancient archeological sites.
I usually start with a general subject in mind and design the piece as I go.

Mike Bonin
Wood

As a woodworker, my goal is to create functional, aesthetically pleasing items that can be used in the home for many years.

My name is Mike Bonin. I have been married to Joy Freyou Bonin for 36 years and we have three children, Breigh, Alex and Ian. Breigh is married to Brian Casanova and together they have given us 3 grandchildren, Daniel, Katherine, and Claire. I retired form the Iberia Parish School Board in 2013. I served as a Coach and Principal on the Middle School level for 32 years. I have been working with wood all of my adult life. I have created all types of furniture to both furnish my home and to sell. In the last several years I have created a line of wooden cooking utensils, cutting boards, rolling pins and cheese slicing boards. All of my products are hand made in my home shop in New Iberia, Louisiana.

Matthew Latiolais
Wood & Furniture

Matthew Latiolais, from Lafayette, Louisiana, is a master craftsman known for his exquisite wood and metal creations. His journey began early, with a passion for woodworking and metal fabrication.

Education and Expertise
• Degree in Industrial Technology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
• Minor in Business, enhancing his entrepreneurial skills.
• Graduate of the Louisiana Contractors Institute, knowledgeable in construction techniques and project management.

Artistry and Craftsmanship
• Matthew’s work blends natural wood textures with industrial metal aesthetics.
• His pieces, from custom furniture to forged iron gates, showcase meticulous attention to detail and artistic flair.

Community Involvement
• Active member of the Louisiana Crafts Guild.
• Regular participant at the Lafayette Farmers and Artisan Market, engaging with the local community.

Debora Lane
Ceramics

The “Earth, Hand and Fire” style of artist Debora Lane is quickly noticed in her pottery work. Each piece hand crafted, always offering the collectability of art pottery. My style is unique to the pottery business, voluptuous, curvy, even romantic. With a wide range of glazes, it allows the expression of such a broad range of personality, mood and style and yet the utility you look for when selecting your stone ware.

My pieces are created straight from the soul which means the majority of my work is one of a kind. Inspiration is drawn from my love of music and natural influences combining for a unique perspective on craft. Sketches have a big role in the process as I stop and rough out designs or ideas as they come to me. Some to be refined later, days or even years down the road. I also love complex shapes and utilize templates for some of my works when appropriate. My work has evolved and displays my artistic vision from start to finish as I create my own stamps and marking tools to be used with my own templates or forms.