An Inspired Cabinet by Bruce Gray Recently Added to the New Brunswick Museum’s Sheila Hugh Mackay Collection of Strathbutler Award Winners

Artistic Philosophy and Design Intent

Bruce Gray creates exceptionally fine furniture that presents not only a philosophy but also a methodical working approach. For Gray, the title of this work, “Fractured,” is a reference to our current economic/social/cultural condition. Though there is a deep divide, we are firmly connected at the root (panel bottom), and if one looks deeper, we share core values bridging the divide (shelves). This perspective offers hope amidst division.

This cabinet, commissioned by the New Brunswick Museum, is meant to document Gray’s consummate skills as a master maker of cased furniture. It features a unique piece of elm from Fredericton with additional wood for the case, shelving, and handle specially selected by the artist.

Challenging Preconceptions of Value

As is typical of Gray’s work, the cabinet’s intent is to challenge public preconceptions of value—what is important and what should be discarded, what is flawed and what is special. As shown in Image 2, the cabinet design is driven by the door panel, a formerly bark-filled crack within an elm tree. A part that forestry practices dictate to be discarded is here honored as the central focus of a work of art. The spalted (partly rotten) drawer faces inside, visible in Images 3 and 4, echo this theme. Gray finds that natural materials, like people, often grow richer and more interesting with age.

Deceptive Simplicity

A second theme of Gray’s work is deceptive simplicity. The focus of this work is the panel. The case is intended to be subservient and complementary, so it displays clean lines with hidden, internal joinery. Even the interior joins are hidden. The only exceptions are the drawers’ sides, only visible when pulled out. These joints are intended as a discovered treat. Simple, warm tone, inlaid brass knife hinges and shelf support hardware blend with the warm wood. The piece is truly deceptively simple with clean lines, but consists of 179 parts.

Functionality in Art

A third consistent theme of Gray’s is practicality. While it may be an artwork, it must also be able to be used. The adjustable shelves, set of drawers, and pre-drilled hanging plate ensure the work’s functionality.

Thoughtful Handle Design

Handle design is a delight for Gray. Along with the drawer “handles,” the door handle, detailed in Image 5, is the only part of the work touched. It should be a pleasure to the eye, inviting to the hand, complement the larger work, and be fully functional. The door handle wood, bocote, was chosen to echo the color of the inner edge of the crack. The upper edge is slightly bowed out, echoing the bow front of the top and bottom as well as the top’s “ears.” The side curves and “tail” of the handle were designed to echo the crack.

Meticulous Craftsmanship Throughout

Thoroughness of execution is important to Gray. The materials and workmanship of the never-seen back, shown in Image 6, are consistent with the remainder of the cabinet. The chosen back panel figure would serve well on the front of any fine work. The number three has great significance for Gray, hence the three drawers, detailed in Images 7 and 8.

The Making Process

Images 9 through 15 document the meticulous process of creating this masterpiece, showing Bruce Gray assembling a drawer, cabinet pieces prior to construction, assembling the door, clamping the door, and drawers before assembly and during clamping.

A Significant Addition to the Museum’s Collection

Gray has a long record of producing exceptional cabinetry utilizing unique pieces of wood as the inspiration for the work. Just added to the New Brunswick Museum’s collection, this is the first 21st-century cased piece to represent the small but important group of fine furniture artisans of the province. It is an extremely high-quality, contemporary iteration of a centuries-old tradition and craft in the province. Currently, there is only one other piece of Gray’s cased furniture in the public domain. This piece complements another of Gray’s recent works, a coffee table “Earth” (2020), which was made from a unique piece of live-edge curly yellow birch that is accented with granite, sand, and deer antler.

According to Peter Larocque, New Brunswick Museum art curator, “With the addition of Bruce Gray’s superbly crafted cabinet, ‘Fractured,’ the New Brunswick Museum’s collection increases in importance. Not only does this piece enhance our representation of techniques, materials, and approaches, but it also strengthens our goal in documenting an outstanding legacy of craftsmanship.”