March 19, 7:00 pm

Gideon Hughes: Custom Design and Style

*Road Trip* 

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:00pm 

@1801 SE Franklin St., Portland 

Like the Willie Nelson song says, “We’re on the road again.” We haven’t had a road trip for a while, so March seems like a good time to break the cabinet fever and get out. In February, we saw the creativity of Brett Stern and his amazing Gothic Revival “castle.” In March, we will see creativity through the whimsical eyes of Gideon Hughes, in what I call “Alice in Wonderland Revival.” And all we need to do is take a short drive in Portland and skip the rabbit hole. 

Professional woodworkers for Guild presentations, often prefer to present from their shop. It’s where they do their work and where they are the most comfortable. Presenting from their shop has advantages  too, because we get to see actual pieces of their work, often even works in progress, instead of merely pictures. A bit more work to travel, perhaps, but we get to see these woodworking artists in their creative backyards, so to speak. This makes for a richer experience. 

Gideon Hughes, of Gideon Hughes Woodworks, is a master craftsman who brags about being “old school.” He says his design tools are paper and pencil, and his technology is a tape measure and story pole. He designs custom kitchens and cabinets, to pay the bills, but his creative work is full of whimsy with bright colors and flowing, twisting shapes. When you see one of his kitchens, the first word that comes to mind is “beautiful.” It’s impossible not to smile and chuckle when you see his water heater lingerie cabinet or his puzzle table. And who wouldn’t want a twisty, curving chest of drawers, like the one pictured here, complete with blue drawer fronts and, whatever that is on top – is it a toupee? A mustache? A whisk of wind-blown hair? 

How to get there: 

The place can be a bit hard to find, so we have included a map and a picture of the building. You’ll need to take SE 20th south off SE Powell Blvd and then go around the block to get to 1801 SE Franklin. The entrance is on the left after you walk through the parking lot in the front. Gideon assures me there will be plenty of street parking at that time of night. We hope to see you there.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/96184696029?pwd=MWZOUEZsejJua0pJY2tvbjVSVlFuZz09

Hint: The link never changes for the monthly meeting. It is the same every month.