Museum Bench by Chad Jensen, Method & Concept
Naples and Fort Myers makers reveal how patience, process and natural materials give objects lasting presence.As AI speeds production and smooths edges across industries, these Southwest Florida makers are moving in the opposite direction. In Naples, Chad Jensen hand-numbers walnut benches limited to 100 pieces. PJ White applies thousands of dots individually with an acrylic dropper over 100 hours. Fort Myers’ Christine Cutting calculates shrinkage on hand-built ceramic sconces through trial and error.
The furniture, lighting and home decor emerging from Naples and Fort Myers studios prove that the most compelling designs still come from human touch, experimentation and time.
Chad Jensen has long been a shaping force in Southwest Florida’s contemporary art and design scene. He recently relocated Method & Concept gallery to the Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild campus in North Naples, giving him the space to return to his roots as a maker. For the Museum Bench, Jensen set himself a 24-hour design challenge and let the materials dictate the form. Working with American black walnut, he began with the seat, designing around 12-inch boards—the widest stock he can reliably source for reproductions. A ceruse finish accentuates the grain, while a ceramic wax gives the surface warmth. The hand-stitched English bridle-leather sling provides functional space for catalogs and sketchbooks. Only 100 benches will be made, each one hand-numbered and marked with an insignia. “The beauty of wood [is] no two pieces are ever going to be identical,” Jensen says. “That’s the part of working with nature that I love.” methodandconcept.com





