2012 Home Category: Overall Winner

The 2012 Made in the South Awards recognized exceptional craftsmanship, particularly in the Home Category. The overall winner was Wood Studio's Lookout Mountain Rocker, a testament to traditional woodworking by brothers Keith and Dylan Cochran. Based in Arley, Alabama, near the William B. Bankhead National Forest, the brothers dedicate eighty hours to each rocker, meticulously crafting them without computer-controlled tools or external help. Their process emphasizes the use of native, air-dried wood such as walnut, cherry, or maple, dried for two years to preserve structural integrity and natural luster. They pair this with vegetable-dyed, hand-stretched leather for the seat and back. The Cochrans' commitment to quality extends to their joinery, where they scrutinize wood grain to prevent stress from humidity changes and utilize mortise-and-tenon joints, secured with brass pins for lasting durability. This dedication to their craft is deeply rooted in family history, as their father, Randy Cochran, designed the original Lookout Mountain Rocker over thirty years prior. Randy, an industrial design graduate from Auburn University, incorporated minimalist and Bauhaus principles into the rocker's design, focusing on essential form and function, such as low arms for holding a toddler. The rocker's name and inspiration come from Lookout Mountain in Fort Payne, Alabama, where Randy developed a profound respect for natural growth, influencing Wood Studio's designs to avoid artificial straight lines or contrived curves. Randy founded Wood Studio in the mid-1980s, and his sons joined full-time in 2001. Despite economic challenges post-9/11, they persevered, eventually gaining recognition through the Sundance Catalog. The brothers later relocated their workshop to Arley, while Randy returned to Fort Payne to manage the business and pursue his own woodworking. Their work is celebrated for its "Shaker contemporary" style, a term coined by gallery owner James-Ben Stockton, highlighting their faith in the inherent beauty of natural wood like white oak and ash, rejecting paint or uniform finishes that would obscure the wood's unique character and texture. Each piece is distinct, even two walnut chairs with natural tan hide will differ in color and texture. In addition to the overall winner, the Home Category also recognized several runners-up. Nordt Family Farm, based in Charles City, VA, was honored for its delicate, color-blocked blankets woven from merino wool, with Dianne Nordt personally weaving approximately eighty-five blankets per spring shearing. Kaminer Haislip from Charleston, SC, received recognition for her sculptural silver coffeepot, blending traditional European silversmithing with Art Deco and Scandinavian modern influences. Finally, Fire Pit Art from Lebanon, TN, was acknowledged for Rick Wittrig’s durable fire pits, crafted from quarter-inch steel, reflecting a strong tradition of no-nonsense craftsmanship and designed to last for a century. #MadeInTheSouthAwards #WoodStudio #LookoutMountainRocker #HandcraftedFurniture #TraditionalWoodworking #ArtisanCrafts #SouthernCraftsmanship #HomeGoods #ProductDesign #MadeInTheSouthAwards #WoodStudio #LookoutMountainRocker #HandcraftedFurniture #TraditionalWoodworking #ArtisanCrafts #SouthernCraftsmanship #HomeGoods #ProductDesign

103 months ago

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