Artist

Melvin Lindquist

born Kingsburg, CA 1911-died Quincy, FL 2000
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Photograph by Kathy Linquist
Born
Kingsburg, California, United States
Died
Quincy, Florida, United States
Biography

Melvin Lindquist pioneered the use of spalted wood in turned vessels. The fine black lines and blemishes result from the spread of bacteria and mineral deposits in the drying wood. Lindquist’s job as a lathe operator for General Electric demanded the production of flawlessly machined objects; away from the factory, he enjoyed exploiting the natural cracks, holes, and uneven edges that occurred in his turned wooden vessels.

Exhibitions

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A Revolution in Wood: The Bresler Collection
September 23, 2010–January 30, 2011
Renwick Gallery
A Revolution in Wood: The Bresler Collection celebrates the magnificent gift of sixty-six pieces of turned and carved wood to the Smithsonian American Art Museum by the noted collectors, Fleur and Charles Bresler.

Related Books

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A Revolution in Wood: The Bresler Collection
A Revolution in Wood celebrates the gift of sixty-six pieces of turned and carved wood to the Renwick Gallery by the distinguished collectors Fleur and Charles Bresler. Illustrated in lavish detail, works by this country’s best-known wood artists highlight the growing sophistication of American craft’s youngest medium. The collection includes masterpieces by the field’s pioneers—David Ellsworth, William Hunter, Mark and Melvin Lindquist, and several others—as well as compelling recent works created with new techniques.