Today at the Museum


Do-It-Yourself Stickley

“When we come to make things ourselves . . . we should not only find more pleasure in making them but we shall take more pleasure in possessing them.” —Gustave Stickley, The Craftsman, March 1905

Gustav Stickley believed in the do-it-yourself spirit and encouraged people to make furniture and furnishings for their homes. He provided plans for these projects in his monthly magazine The Craftsman. View The Craftsman online.

As part of the upcoming exhibition Gustav Stickley and the American Arts & Crafts Movement, we invite you to take up Stickley’s challenge and create pieces inspired by his designs. We would like you to document your process through photographs or videos and send them to us. Your Stickley-inspired projects will be featured in the education space of the exhibition.

Guidelines:

  • Be inspired by one of Stickley’s designs, which range from a simple birdhouse and stenciling to more complex projects like a small table and embroidered pillows.
  • Choose a design found here as a starting point for your project.

o Birdhouse and Doghouse, The Craftsman (March 1905), pp. 723-726

o Round Table, The Craftsman (April 1905), pp. 92–93

o Mantel and Wall Clocks, The Craftsman (December 1905), pp. 432-433

o Child’s Open Bookcase, The Craftsman (October, 1906), 120-121

o Curtains and Pillows, The Craftsman (June 1904), pp. 312–315

o Stencil Designs, The Craftsman (January 1913), pp. 470–475

  • Adapt Stickley’s designs but keep Stickley’s guiding principles in mind. These principles include honesty of material, simplicity of ornament, solidity of construction, utility, adaptability to place, and aesthetic effect.
  • Tell us about your process through photographs and videos. Was it enjoyable, challenging? How did you adapt Stickley’s designs? How does your piece relate to Stickley’s guiding principles? How do you feel about the object you made? Please do not include any company logos or references to a company in your submission.
  • Upload your photos and/or videos to Flickr or YouTube and tag them “DIYStickley” by April 10, 2011.
  • Questions? Send them to multimedia@DallasMuseumofArt.org.
  • We reserve the right to select projects to feature in the education space of the forthcoming exhibition Gustav Stickley and the American Arts & Crafts Movement.

Image:

Reclining chair No. 2340 (No. 336), designed c. 1901, executed c. 1901–1902, Gustav Stickley, The Gustav Stickley Company, c. 1898–1901, or United Crafts, c. 1901–1903 Oak and leather upholstery, Collection of Gregg G. Seibert