Artwork copyright John Furniss. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2023.

Artwork copyright John Furniss. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2023.

Artwork copyright John Furniss. John Furniss, Michael Naranjo, Stephen Robison and Kathleen Guss, and Crista Ames. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2023.

Artwork copyright John Furniss. John Furniss, Michael Naranjo, Stephen Robison and Kathleen Guss, and Crista Ames. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2023.

Artwork copyright John Furniss. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2023.

Walnut Bowl, 2022

John Furniss
American (born 1981)

Location: Washington State School for the Blind, Vancouver

About the Artwork

As a blind woodworker, each piece that John Furniss makes is very tactile in design. The journey in his wood shop mirrors his journey through blindness. Each project brings its own challenges, much like navigating the landscape of a sighted world without sight. This artwork is part of a curated collection by Gregg Schlanger in October 2023 for the Washington State School for the Blind in Vancouver. The local Art Selection Committee wanted artworks that anyone can approach and fully experience and understand via more than just sight. Gregg Schlanger selected artworks that are comfortable in the hand and have a tactile experience. This artwork is meant to be touched. It is installed in a large shadow box wall with ten spaces for ten accessible artworks.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Washington State School for the Blind.

About the Artist

John Furniss is a woodworker who has been blind since the age of 16. He learned woodworking in his early twenties from a teacher who was also blind and shared adaptive techniques that Furniss still uses. In his own way, he still uses sight by forming a physical object that he visualizes as an imagined blueprint or form in his mind. Furniss lives in Washougal, Southwestern Washington, with his wife Anni who is also an artist, and their dog, Pickle. He was honored with a 2024 Washington State Governor's Arts and Heritage Award.