For our October 2024 meeting, Mark Sfirri presented a slideshow of how he began his journey in working with wood.

During the meeting, Mark shared his journey, starting as an architecture student at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where an encounter with the woodshop revealed his true calling. Under the guidance of renowned mentor Tage Frid, Mark delved into the artistic realms of woodturning, carving, and furniture design, pushing the boundaries of creativity and craftsmanship. Over the years, his work has been enriched by collaborations with talented artists, including Robert Dodge and Michael Hosaluk, among others. Mark's exploration of multiaxis spindle turning began in 1992, marking a significant milestone in his evolving artistic practice.

The main focus of Mark's presentation was explaining his design process for his 2 upcoming solo exhibitions, La Famiglia (The Family), will be held at the Museum of Art in Wood from November 1, 2024 to February 16, 2025 and The Flower Show, will be showcased at the James A. Michener Art Museum from December 14, 2024 to May 5, 2025.

For La Famiglia, Mark shared his inspiration for Ellis Islanders, a series influenced by the images of older immigrants arriving in the United States at the turn of the century. One striking detail from historical photographs was the prevalence of hats, a feature Mark incorporated into his figures to evoke the era's authenticity. For the collaborative project Immigrants, Mark invited 45 artists to contribute a 4x4.5 inch painting or drawing of their personal immigrant. Mark organized these works into five groups of nine, creating a total of five framed collections that celebrate diverse stories of migration and identity.

For The Flower Show, Mark shared the origins of the project, which began with a deeply personal endeavor—creating wooden flowers for his son's wedding at the Museum for Art in Wood. Since fresh flowers were prohibited inside the museum, Mark meticulously turned and carved each bouquet and arrangement by hand. During the discussion, he detailed his process of designing a variety of flowers, blending artistic vision with technical skill, and how these creations became the foundation for his later exhibition.