Lou Quallenberg Studios to attend Western Design Conference in
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Llano, Texas, August 26, 2008 — Once again the talented mesquite artist Lou Quallenberg has created a breathtaking mesquite coffee table art piece. The piece is a perfect combination of nature and sculpture. Lou tries to draw the soul of the tree into each piece he creates. He looks upon each tree as a unique gift and tries to honor it's long life with the creations he brings forth from it's trunk and branches. If you get a chance to look at and touch this new piece you will find it talking to you, maybe even singing. Its soul along with a piece of Lou's spirit are fused into the piece creating a concept the Japanese call takumi. It is a goal Lou Quallenberg tries to reach in each of his pieces.
The piece is scheduled to debut at the prestigious Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Now in its 16th year, the conference continues to be the foremost exhibition and celebration of what is happening in the world of western design. It is an honor to be accepted to exhibit at the Western Design Conference. The juried show, featuring nationally recognized artisans and craftspeople working with wood, metal, leather, textiles, and more, runs Sept. 4-6, 2008. The world's preeminent exhibition of Western furniture, home accessories, fashion, and jewelry features a wide range of artistic influences, including Cowboy, Adirondack, Rustic, Lodge, Asian, Southwestern, Hispanic, Native American, and Modern. Approximately 100 exhibitors and 3,500 western enthusiasts, collectors, and design professionals plan to attend the three-day event at the Snow King Resort.
The Western Design Conference is hosted by Teton Home and Living magazine with a mission of helping nurture the evolution of design in the American West. The conference is part of the opening days of the popular Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, Sept. 4-21, 2008. The WDC exhibition and sale will be open to the public Thursday, Sept. 4 from Noon to 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 5 from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Snow King Conference Center in Jackson. Tickets are $15, or $35 for a three-day pass. For additional information, call (307) 690-9719 or visit http://www.westerndesignconference.com/.
Lou along with his wife Cheryl, mentor/partner and father-in-law Steve Walker, mother-in-law Carolyn Walker and brother-in-law Shawn Walker will all be involved in getting this piece and it's sister piece safely to the show in Jackson Hole. It will require special care because of its extra large size. The Jackson coffee table measures 10 ft 4 inches at its longest length, 2 ft 8 inches at its widest point and is 1 ft 6 inches high. The sister piece measures 9ft 2 inches in length and 2 ft 6 inches at its widest point. Both of the tops are natural mesquite slabs that measure a hefty 1 ¾ inches in thickness. The trip of about 1,300 miles each way is expected to take 3-4 days each way.
Lou's work is sure to create a buzz and will represent the Texas Hill County with honor. They are each real treasures for generations to come and art that functions as furniture.
# # #
Lou Quallenberg Wins Best Texas Style Furniture at The 9th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show®
Llano, Tx.- November 1, 2008 - The Ninth Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show located in Kerrville, Texas held it's Reception and Award Ceremony Saturday night November 1, 2008. This is a Juried Show, so being accepted to the show is an Honor in itself. Sixty five phenomenal pieces of Furniture were accepted this year. The Show began October 23rd and runs through December 6, 2008 at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center.
Lou Quallenberg of Llano, Texas created the unique Mesquite Coffee Table that won the Texas Style Category. The table has a flowing natural mesquite top that floats on steel rods above a matching contemporary curve of laminated mesquite. The piece is unusual because of its large size and the holes and open spaces that Lou sculpted out. The table made its debut at the Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole Wyoming in September along with it's sister piece. The two pieces are called sisters because they came from the same tree and have lived their entire life side by side. “Sister” the winning table is a little smaller(9ft 2in L x 2ft 6in W x 1ft 6in H) than “Jackson” (10ft4in L x 2ft8in W x 1ft 6 in H). The two pieces are displayed together at the show in an almost yin yang like effect. While the pieces were judged and are priced individually the artist secretly hopes that they find a home together.
The tables are a perfect combination of nature and sculpture. Lou tries to draw the soul of the tree into each piece he creates. He looks upon each tree as a unique gift and tries to honor it's long life with the creations he brings forth from it's branches and trunk. If you get a chance to view these sister pieces you will find them talking to you, maybe even singing. The tree's soul along with a piece of Lou's spirit are fused into the pieces creating a concept the Japanese call takumi. It is a goal Lou Quallenberg tries to reach in each of his pieces and probably what made this table an award winner.
Judges for this year’s show included internationally acclaimed master furniture maker, teacher and mentor Michael C. Fortune, from Ontario, Canada, Asa Christiana, Editor of Fine Woodworking Magazine of Newton, Connecticut and Paul Sellers dean of the Homestead Heritage Woodworking School of Woodworking in Waco, Texas. # # #
Lou Quallenberg Wins Best Art Furniture at Texas Furniture Makers Show
Llano, Tx.- November 7, 2005 - The Sixth Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show located in Kerville, Texas held it's Reception and Award Ceremony Saturday night November 5, 2005. This is a Juried Show, so being accepted to the show is an Honor in itself. Seventy phenomenal pieces of Furniture were accepted this year. The Show began October 28th and runs through December 4, 2005 at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center.
Lou Quallenberg of Llano, Texas created the Mesquite Coffee Table that won the Best Art Furniture Category. The Table has a natural mesquite top that floats above a contemporary curve of mahogany and four beautifully stylized legs. Some of the natural cracks and crevices of the mesquite top contain bits of gold and turquoise. The overall effect is both beautiful and functional. A real piece of Art.
Lou Quallenberg was raised in a home that doubled as a Photography Studio/School.Identified early as an artist, he picked up a camera as a young boy and never had the opportunity to look back. Lou worked in the family Studios until he spread his wings in 1985 and went on his own to become a successful commercial photographer. Working with numerous large companies to create advertising photography of the highest caliber he built a strong reputation.
In 1993 Lou met Cheryl Walker and discovered her love for Texas. They were married in 1995 and bounced between Texas and New Jersey. In 2002 the lure of the Texas Hill Country was too strong to resist so they made a final move across the country to Llano,Texas, where they opened a Photography Gallery. Lou had already uncovered his love for wood, this move gave him a chance to concentrate on that love and hone his skills. It also gave him a chance to work side by side with Steve Walker his Father-In-Law, Partner, and Mentor. Taking it to the next level is what Lou is really all about and he continues to reach new levels year after year. Lou Quallenberg creates Art that functions as Furniture. # # #
MEGA MESQUITE LOG LANDS IN LLANO
Lou Quallenberg Studios brings home a big tree to create art that functions as furniture
Llano, Texas, May 21, 2007 — Saturday evening May 19th marked the arrival of an enormous mesquite tree in Llano. Lou Quallenberg, his father-in-law Steve Walker, brothers-in-law Shawn Walker and Terry Martin, with friends Bill Gleason and Karl Rhodes traveled to San Angelo very early Saturday morning to cut down and bring back this monster mesquite tree. The cut tree log is about 12 feet long, 34 inches wide on the end, about 47inches in the middle and weighs about 2.5 tons. Most Texans do not realize that mesquite trees can reach these sizes but they can and do, with the majority being found in South Texas. A tree of this size could be over 200 years old.
This tree was growing very near a home in San Angelo. The home owner lived in fear of the branches falling and seriously damaging the home. This gentleman saw Lou's work, a unique mix of contemporary and nature, at the Texas Mesquite Show in San Angelo and asked Lou if he could remove the tree and use it for his furniture. Lou looks upon this tree as a unique gift and will try to honor it's long life with the creations he will bring forth from it's trunk and branches.
Lou Quallenberg Studios creates a contemporary style furniture that captures the essence of the Texas Hill Country. Working primarily with Texas Mesquite, they attempt to honor the wood and highlight it's natural beauty. Each curve is carefully created to match the natural curves of the mesquite top. The curved designs are hand crafted to enhance the look as well as serve as strong support, creating a piece that is both functional and beautiful. The finish is a hand rubbed oil and wax that calls out for you to touch it. They are each real treasures for generations to come and Art that functions as furniture.
The trick now will be to find a Mill with a large enough saw to cut the log into whole slabs. This tree may end up taking another very long road trip before it can be dried and then used to create one of Lou's special pieces.
Lou Quallenberg Studios to Debut Mesquite Partners Desk at the Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Llano, Texas, September 3, 2009- Artisan Lou Quallenberg has created another stunning, live edge, mesquite functional art piece. Designed as a Mesquite Partners Desk it features four curved drawers each curved and fitted into the curved apron, custom antler drawer pulls and leg arches, as well as his signature live edge, floating top and curves, curves, curves! The piece is a beautiful combination of both nature and sculpture. Lou attempts to draw the soul of the tree into each piece he creates. He looks upon each tree as a unique gift and tries to honor it's life with the creations he brings forth from it's trunk and branches. If you get a chance to look at and touch his work you will probably find it talking to you, maybe even singing. Its soul along with a piece of Lou's spirit are fused into the piece creating a concept the Japanese call takumi. It is a goal Lou Quallenberg tries to reach in each of his pieces.
The piece is scheduled to debut at the prestigious Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Now in its 17th year, the conference continues to be the foremost exhibition and celebration of what is happening in the world of western design. It is an honor to be juried and accepted to exhibit at the Western Design Conference featuring approximately 100 nationally recognized artisans and craftspeople working with wood, metal, leather, textiles, and more. The world's preeminent exhibition of Western furniture, home accessories, fashion, and jewelry features a wide range of artistic influences, including Cowboy, Adirondack, Rustic, Lodge, Asian, Southwestern, Hispanic, Native American, and Modern received 200 artist applications this year. Four Texas artists will have their work on display for the expected 3,500 western enthusiasts, collectors, and design professionals attending the three-day event. Sept. 10-12, 2009 at the Snow King Resort.
The Western Design Conference is hosted by Teton Home and Living magazine with a mission of helping nurture the evolution of design in the American West. The conference is part of the opening days of the popular Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, Sept. 10-20, 2009. The WDC exhibition and sale will be open to the public Thursday, Sept. 10 from Noon to 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Snow King Conference Center in Jackson. Tickets are $15, or $35 for a three-day pass. For additional information, call (307) 690-9719 or visit http://www.westerndesignconference.com/.
Lou's work is sure to create a buzz and will represent Texas and the Texas Hill County with honor. A real treasure for generations to come and art that functions as furniture.
# # #
Lou Quallenberg Wins Best Texas Style Furniture at The 10th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show®
(Winning This Category For Two Years In A Row) Llano, Tx.- November 9, 2009 - The Tenth Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show located in Kerrville, Texas held it's Reception and Award Ceremony Saturday night November 7, 2009. This is a juried Show, so being accepted to the show is an Honor in itself. Seventy six incredible pieces of Furniture were accepted this year. The Show began on October 22nd and runs through December 5, 2009 at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center. http://www.kacckerrville.com/texasfurnitureshow.html
Lou Quallenberg of Llano, Texas created the stunning, live edge, Mesquite Partners Desk that won the Texas Style Category. Designed as a Mesquite Partners Desk it features four drawers each curved and fitted into the curved apron. Each drawer has a self closing mechanism and can be opened to full extension while two drawers include a removable drawer tray with a magnetic catch to hold them in place. Other special touches include custom antler drawer pulls and leg arches, as well as his signature live edge, floating top and curves, curves, curves! Black epoxy was used to fill several of the holes, cracks and crevices while some were sculpted and left open. The artist’s signature “curved mesquite bowties” and mesquite splines were used to hold any larger cracks together. Dimensions of the desk are 72”Lx 42”Wx 34”H. Photos can be seen online at: http://www.louqart.com/mesquite_desk.html
The piece is a beautiful combination of both nature and sculpture. It is a piece that radically changes the concept of Texas Style, bringing a more contemporary, refined look that would fit well in the most sophisticated Penthouse in New York City. Lou Quallenberg won the Best Texas Style Category at last year's Texas Furniture Makers Show with his Mesquite Sister Coffee Table created from an unusually large slab of mesquite with a much less dramatic venture off of the more rustic "Texas Style" path.
Ironically Lou Quallenberg works primarily with Texas mesquite wood in an area that has become quite famous for it's mesquite smoked barbecue. Lou tries to honor each mesquite tree used to create his pieces and finds a connection with each unique piece of wood that comes through his shop. His goal is to create a piece that you want to reach out and touch. Judging from the number of hands, handprints and fingerprints on his piece at the Awards presentation he easily reached that goal with this amazing new piece.
Judges for this year’s show included Nationally recognized Jonathan Binzin of New Milford, Connecticut, writer, photographer and former Senior Editor of Fine Woodworking Magazine with continued contributions identifying and interviewing most of the woodworkers that have been showcased on the back page of the Magazine. He also writes for This Old House and American Craft Magazines and has a published book written along with Kevin Rodel "Arts & Crafts Furniture From Classic to Contemporary" http://store.taunton.com/onlinestore/item/arts-crafts-furniture-jonathan-binzen-070491.html
Spider Johnson a multitalented professional Artist, Furniture Maker, Musician, Writer and Wood Marquetry Master from Mason, Texas http://spiderjohnson.com/index.html
And finally Curtis Whittington a professional Furniture Maker, Master Craftsman and former Texas Furniture Maker Show Judge residing in Boerne, Texas. ###
Lou Quallenberg to Debut New Design Styled Coffee Table
at the 11th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show®in Kerrville, Texas
Llano, Texas, October 20, 2010- Mesquite Artist Lou Quallenberg has created another stunning, live edge, mesquite functional art piece. Designed as a coffee table it features a brilliant Starphire® glass top that floats atop a sculpted and curved, live edge, mesquite trunk. The heavy glass sits atop two iron bars that are capped with mesquite covers which echo the design of Lou's signature bow tie. Lou has included is signature curved apron that repeats the curve of the trunk and attaches his two newly designed stylized legs. The piece is named “Carolyn's Curves” to honor his mother in law Carolyn Walker. She fell in love with the mesquite trunk that Lou used to make this piece and waited in eager, anticipation to see what he would create with it. Lou's work is a beautiful combination of both nature and sculpture. He attempts to draw the soul of the tree into each piece he creates. If you get a chance to look at and touch his work you will probably find it talking to you, maybe even singing. It is a goal Lou Quallenberg tries to reach in each of his pieces.
“Carolyn's Curves” is scheduled to debut at the Texas Furniture Makers Show in Kerrville Texas. Now in its 11th year, the Furniture Makers Show continues to be the foremost exhibition of Furniture Makers in Texas. It is an honor to be juried and accepted to exhibit at the Texas Furniture Makers Show featuring 51 of Texas's finest Furniture makers, craftsmen and designers working with wood, metal, textiles, glass and more. The Texas artists will have their work on display for the expected 5,000 visitors, collectors, and design professionals attending the show that begins October 21,2010 and goes through December 4, 2010 at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center 228 Earl Garrett Street in Kerrville, Texas.
The Artist Reception and Awards Ceremony for the show will be held Saturday October 30th, 2010 from 6 p.m.-8p.m. Lou Quallenberg has won the Best Texas Style category for the past two years consecutively. First with his Mesquite Sister Coffee Table in 2008 and then last year with his Mesquite Partners Desk. He also won The Best Art Furniture Category in 2005 with his Curved Mesquite Coffee Table.
The Texas Furniture Makers Show is hosted by the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center and sponsored by Woodcraft, Otto Dukes Machinery Company, Fine Lumber and Plywood Inc., JDS Multi-Router, Allen & Allen Company and Alamo Hardwoods Inc.. The exhibition and sale will be open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays 1pm to 4 pm. Admission is Free For additional information, call (830) 895-2911 or visit http://www.kacckerrville.com/.
Lou's new work is sure to captivate. A real treasure for generations to come and art that functions as furniture.
# # #
Lou Quallenberg Wins Best Texas Style Furniture at The 11th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show® (Winning This Category For Three Years In A Row - Not bad for a Jersey Boy)
Llano, Tx.- November 1, 2010 - The Eleventh Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show located in Kerrville, Texas held it's Reception and Award Ceremony Saturday night October 30, 2010. Now in its 11th year, the Furniture Makers Show continues to be the foremost exhibition of Furniture Makers in Texas. It is an honor to be juried and accepted to exhibit at the Texas Furniture Makers Show featuring 51 of Texas's finest Furniture makers, craftsmen and designers working with wood, metal, textiles, glass and more. The Texas artists will have their work on display for the expected 5,000 visitors, collectors, and design professionals attending the show that begins October 21, 2010 and goes through December 4, 2010 at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center 228 Earl Garrett Street in Kerrville, Texas.
Lou Quallenberg of Llano, Texas created the stunning, sculpted, live edge mesquite and Starphire® glass topped coffee table that won the Texas Style Category. The heavy glass sits atop two iron bars that are capped with mesquite covers that echo the design of his signature bow tie. Lou has included is signature curved mesquite apron that repeats the curve of the trunk and attaches his two newly designed stylized legs. The piece is named “Carolyn's Curves” to honor his mother in law Carolyn Walker. She fell in love with the mesquite trunk that Lou used to make this piece and waited in anticipation to see what he would create with it. Lou's work is a beautiful combination of both nature and sculpture. Lou attempts to draw the soul of the tree into each piece he creates. If you get a chance to look at and touch his work you will probably find it talking to you, maybe even singing. It is a goal Lou Quallenberg tries to reach in each of his pieces. Dimensions of the table are 96”Lx 20”Wx 18”H. Photos can be seen online at: http://www.louqart.com/Texas_Furniture_Makers_Show.html
Carolyn's Curves is a piece that helps change the concept of Texas Style, bringing a more contemporary, refined look that would fit well in the most sophisticated Penthouse in Dallas, Houston, New York City or London but also would belong in a Hill Country style home. Lou Quallenberg won the Best Texas Style Category at last year's Texas Furniture Makers Show with his Mesquite Partners Desk a much more radical take on the concept of Texas Style. Lou also won the Best Texas Style Category at the 2008 Texas Furniture Makers Show with his Mesquite Sister Coffee Table created from an unusually large slab of mesquite with a much less dramatic venture off of the more rustic "Texas Style" path.
Ironically Lou Quallenberg, a born and bred Jersey boy, works primarily with Texas mesquite wood in an area that has become quite famous for it's mesquite smoked barbecue. Lou tries to honor each mesquite tree used to create his pieces and finds a connection with each unique piece of wood that comes through his shop. His goal is to create a piece that you want to reach out and touch. Judging from the number of hands, handprints and fingerprints on his piece this year he easily reached that goal.
Judges for this year's show included:
Brian Boggs http://www.brianboggschairs.com/ Brian Boggs, from Asheville, North Carolina, knew from the time he was about 8 years that he was going to be an artist. He always thought that it would be in the realm of landscape painting and drawing. Then in his early 20’s he discovered James Krenov’s books on “The Fine Art of Cabinet Making”. He had never considered that art could take the form of the things we use everyday. He could hardly put the book down and found himself reading everything Krenoy wrote, one book after the other. As he was pondering how to begin as a woodworker he discovered a book by John Alexander titled “Make a Chair From a Tree”, a simple approach to the early ways of greenwood chair-making. He saw in John’s chairs everything he liked about Krenov’s approach; sensitivity to the material, a mastery of the tools, and unlimited possibilities for creative artistry. He set up his first shop with $50 worth of old hand tools and made his first chair in the winter of 1983. When his neighbor saw it, he ordered a set of them for his gallery. He has been filling orders ever since. Chair making has provided him with his livelihood, and has excited a stream of creative energy that has filled him with seemingly endless ideas for new chair and tools designs, as well as methods for making them all. His chair work has led him to some wonderful opportunities; eaching chair-making to indigenous tribes in Honduras and Peru as well as craftsmen young and old in Canada, England and the US. He has designed spokeshaves for companies in the US and Canada, and engineered and built much of his own specialty equipment. “I enjoy all of it! I don’t think I will ever tire of making beautiful furniture. Even so, after many years of creative success, one of the things I enjoy most is teaching other craftsmen the skills and providing the opportunity to use those skills in a professional environment”.
Alan Carr http://www.texashorsemaker.com/ Allan Carr, from Fredericksburg, Texas, pursued a career in naval aviation as a naval operational test pilot. During his early years in San Angelo, Texas, his exposure to woodworking was limited to the construction of class D unlimited hydroplanes. While traveling the world in the Navy, he found time to build furniture for his family. On retirement from the Navy, he moved the family to Fredericksburg, an enclave of Texas artists and furniture makers. He wanted a location to pursue his dream of building “high end” furniture. One Christmas he needed a Christmas project for his daughters. He decided to adapt the traditional Victorian gliding horse and create a horse which captured the romance of the American West. Like other baby boomers he had grown up with Roy Rodgers, Wyatt Earp, Gene Autry and other western idols. This heirloom embodied their early childhood memories and would endure for many family generations. Carr’s horses have won several awards and have been featured on national TV and in various magazines. He is the Festival Director for the annual Texas Mesquite Art Festival held each October in Fredericksburg. This juried event is the largest gathering of artists and craftsmen who work with the Texas exotic wood – mesquite.
Asa Christiana http://www.finewoodworking.com/Community/ArtistProfile.aspx?id=702 Asa Christiana, from Thomaston, Connecticut, is the editor of Fine Woodworking magazine. A winding path led him to the magazine in 2000. He attended a technical high school, where he learned the machinist trade and first became interested in building things. In college he studied both engineering and English, and afterward took a number of teaching jobs: math in the Peace Corps in West Africa, and then English back in the U.S. Later, he worked as an editor at two newspapers, caught the furniture making bug, and won his dream job: a spot at Fine Woodworking, where editors get to travel around the country to meet and learn from the best woodworkers out there. Asa lives in Thomaston with his wife and two daughters, in a house (and workshop) he helped to design and build.
Lou Quallenberg's mesquite furniture takes the Best Texas Syle Furniture Award three years in a row. Not bad for a Jersey boy! # # #
Lou Quallenberg Studios Sselected as 2010 BRITISH AIRWAYS
Face-Of-Opportunity WINNER
New York, Dec. 27, 2010 –Lou Quallenberg Studios, today announced that it has been selected by British Airways as a 2010 Face-of-Opportunity winner and has been awarded travel to anywhere in the world to conduct vital business meetings as well as attend the British Airways Face-of-Opportunity business conferences in New York and London. This award is part of the British Airways Face-to-Face program, which provides small business owners and entrepreneurs the critical tools for building business relationships abroad and stimulating growth through the power of face- to-face interaction.
“We are excited to be part of the select group of entrepreneurs that were chosen by British Airways as a Face-of-Opportunity winner,” said Cheryl Quallenberg. “This flight will give us the chance to meet with our UK representatives and see their potential gallery locations in London, which is so important for the growth of our business in 2011.” Lou Quallenberg will be unable to attend the NY and London Conferences due to a conflicting schedule so his wife Cheryl will be representing Lou Quallenberg Studios on the trip. "Huge thanks go out to the facebook group Texas Hill Country ( http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/TexasHillCountry ) and its many fans that voted and voted online for the essay to help Lou Quallenberg Studios win" Lou Quallenberg added.
Before taking off for the London conference, Cheryl will attend the British Airways Face-of-Opportunity conference in New York City on Feb. 2, 2011 where the company will receive free counsel from top influential international business experts while networking with venture capitalists, renowned entrepreneurs, media and other small business owners.
The conference, which includes an introduction by Simon Talling-Smith, Executive Vice President Americas, British Airways, and keynote speeches by Rhonda Abrams, best-selling author and USA Today small business columnist and Bill Rancic, best-selling author and first season winner of The Apprentice, will provide Lou Quallenberg Studios with additional tools in business planning, marketing and travel to assist the company in its strategy to expand representation.
“We are very excited for this phase of the program and for the 250 small business owners who, beyond the educational resources already provided through the Face-to-Face program, now have the opportunity to fly British Airways overseas to conduct vital face-to-face meetings for their business,” said Simon Talling-Smith. “Each of the winner’s stories is uniquely inspiring and our hope is that the program is a powerful catalyst in ensuring lasting and fruitful businesses for them.”
About Lou Quallenberg Studios: Lou Quallenberg Studios just recently added another award for Best Texas Style Furniture from the Texas Furniture Makers Show in Kerrville, Texas for Lou's unique contemporary style mesquite furniture. This makes three years in a row that the artist has taken this award category. Not bad for a Jersey boy! Lou Quallenberg Studios mesquite artwork was featured in the October 2009 issue of Cowboys and Indians Magazine in the article titled Woodworkers who've carved out reputations as some of the country's best craftsmen. Lou's work can be seen in the US at: Riverbend Fine Art Gallery in Marble Falls, Texas http://www.riverbendfineart.com/ Circle on the square Art Gallery in Llano, Texas http://www.circleartgallery.com/ Online and by appointment at Lou Quallenberg Studios shop/studio in Llano, Texas http://www.LouQart.com/ Lou Quallenberg Studios is currently in negotiations with representatives in San Francisco and the NYC and tri state area.
Two of Lou Quallenberg's mesquite pieces are currently being prepared for shipping to the UK by Thad Hanna of Fredericksburg Shipping. Due to the timing of the conferences in NYC and London the mesquite tables may still be in transit to the UK. At this time another trip to London is in the planning stages for later in the year.
About British Airways: British Airways is one of the world's largest international airlines. Operating one of the most extensive international scheduled airline route networks, together with its codeshare and franchise partners, the airline flies to more than 300 destinations worldwide. Also, one of the world's longest established airlines, it has always been regarded as an industry-leader. British Airways flies its customers at convenient times to the best located airports across the world.
British Airways is one of the world’s leading global premium airlines with its principal place of business is London with significant presence at Heathrow, Gatwick and London City. It also operates a worldwide air cargo business, largely in conjunction with scheduled passenger services. The airline operates the majority of its domestic UK, international and intercontinental flights from its home at Terminal 5, Heathrow.
Whether customers are in the air or on the ground, British Airways takes pride in providing a full service experience.
Additional information on Face-to-Face is available by visiting the airlines website, http://businessconnect.ba.com/ ba.com/facetoface.
CONTACT:
Jacquelyn Einaugler for British Airways Text 100 Public Relations Email: Jacquelyn.einaugler@text100.com Phone: 212.871.3952
LINKS: British Airways Face to Face Contest Winning Essay: http://www.faceofopportunity.com/gallery?id=2528 Website: http://www.LouQart.com/ Blog: http://mesquite-musings.blogspot.com/ Cowboys & Indians Magazine Article: http://www.cowboysindians.com/art-entertainment/art-galleries/2009-10/wood.jsp The facebook group that voted and voted for the essay to help Lou Quallenberg Studio win: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/TexasHillCountry The Shipping Company : http://www.fbgshipping.com/Welcome.html UK representatives: http://www.hillcountrymesquite.com/
The ESSAY that won this trip: Lou Quallenberg's Texas Mesquite Art: London DEBUT
My business tip is to follow your passion. If you are doing your own THING and starting up a business, it is guaranteed that you are going to be working harder and longer than the competition and all of your 9 to5 friends. This means you better be doing that one THING that makes your heart sing!
My THING is creating art furniture from one of the most amazing woods I have ever seen: Texas Mesquite. Much like me- this very hard, craggly, gnarly wood is full of character, holes and color variations created from the stressful conditions that the tree survives and thrives in. The wood has a rich color range that flows from golden blonde to a rich, deep, velvet red and so many stunning combinations in between. No two pieces are ever the same and I try to use that uniqueness to my advantage. My one of a kind sculpted designs are created and inspired by each individual piece of wood as I attempt to honor the incredible life that the tree lived.
My company Lou Quallenberg Studios in Llano, Texas was recently contacted by Hill Country Mesquite in Nottinghamshire, England. Their THING is to market mesquite and mesquite products in the UK. The company and I have reached an agreement to export some of my pieces to England to be part of their showcase of mesquite art pieces at the end of this year and early part of next year. I would like to travel to London to help promote this incredible wood and my furniture art to an audience of Art Galleries, Home and Garden Magazines, and prospective clients that are currently being courted by Hill Country Mesquite. I am very excited to have my work put onto the world stage with London as the launch pad and it would be so incredible to actually be on location for it's debut. While I'm in the UK I would like to pay a visit to master craftsman, furniture maker and teacher David Savage at the Rowden farm Workshops in Devon. It would be a dream come true to take a class, but at the very least I would like to see the shop, gain a few woodworking tips, be inspired and perhaps discuss the merits of mesquite wood.
I would feel honored to attend any business forums or seminars that British Airways puts together for small business. So I'm asking you to please help me play a bigger role on the world business stage and help me grow my business into a lasting legacy, so I can just keep doing my THING.
Essay Submissions Rules:
* Each Essay Submission must include an answer to the following question: "If you could travel to any city outside the United States to grow your business, where would you go and how would the trip help meet your business objectives?"; * Each Essay Submission must include one business tip from your experience that other small business owners can learn from; * Each Essay Submission must be in text format; * Each Essay Submission must between three hundred and fifty (300) and five hundred (500) words in length; * Each Essay Submission must be in English; ### ###
