McPherson Memorial Table

Wishing to remember and honor their classmate, James E. McPherson, the Andover Newton class of 1963 asked me to build a table that might express something of his spirit. Jim was an accomplished woodworker in addition to his life-long work with people. Carolyn McPherson supplied me with some clippings as well as pictures of some of his wood projects in order to help me get a sense of his spirit and values.

I constructed the table of cherry, one of his favorite woods, and ash, to provide strength in the curved legs. For me the two horizontal pieces expressed the levels of existence on which we live and the legs provided a sense of the soaring spirit that leads us from one to the other. The table is simple and plain, something I felt Jim would want. The cherry contains some vigorous figuring that expresses the unique complexity and beauty in every life. The table was completed in 2004 and dedicated at Andover Newton in 2005.

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