ARROWMONT CRAFT CONVERSATIONS is a video series that highlights artists in the Arrowmont community. Our partnership with Arrowmont faculty and community members has contributed to Arrowmont’s longevity, growth as a school of arts and crafts, and our reputation as an institution that welcomes everyone. The artists who appear in this series exemplify the characteristics that represent the School — they span generations and are among the most experienced, capable, and innovative in the arts and crafts world.
Each of the artists in this series offers insights into their work and their reflections on being a part of the Arrowmont community. Today, we feature Zeke Leonard – Arrowmont instructor and craftsman who creates furniture and instruments from ‘trash’ wood.
Zeke Leonard is an assistant professor in the Syracuse University School of Design, member of the Environmental and Interior Design faculty, and coordinator of the School of Design’s First Year Experience. His research involves the role social responsibility and environmental stewardship can play in contextually-relevant design and fabrication practices. Zeke regularly partners with community groups and organizations to find ways to put local resources to better use. He previously taught at RISD and NYU, and is a regular visiting instructor at institutions including the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Zeke holds an MFA in furniture design from the Rhode Island School of Design and a BFA in set design from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
