Commissioned by MacDowell Foundation, our team collaborated with Executive Director, Chiwonso Kaitano, and her team to design the “Log Cabin” bookends for the Annual MacDowell National Gala. The combined efforts and hard work of our mutual teams at WE-DESIGNS and the MacDowell pushed to complete this commission within a two-months turnaround — a historic first for our team: from concept, schematics, design development, CAD, production, fabrication to delivery.
Background
At MacDowell, we believe in the power of art to transform society and the necessity of supporting artists on their creative journey. Our 31 studios nestled in the New Hampshire woods provide the space, solitude, and sustenance artists need to create work that unites, challenges, and inspires.
The generosity of our community makes this possible. A gift to MacDowell fuels creativity across disciplines—offering artists nourishing meals, private studios, and the exchange of ideas that happens in shared moments on campus.
This year, as we kick off our year-end campaign and celebrate the spaces that make art possible, we invite you to show your support and bring a piece of MacDowell into your home with a limited-edition set of The Log Cabin marble bookends, designed by MacDowell Fellow Wendy W. Fok (’22) and their team at WE-DESIGNS.
Inspired by the historic Log Cabin built by Marian MacDowell as a retreat for her husband, composer Edward MacDowell, and recently featured as centerpieces at MacDowell’s National Benefit, these elegant black-and-white marble bookends honor the foundation of our creative community.
Mission Statement
MacDowell’s mission is to nurture the arts by offering talented individuals an inspiring residential environment in which to produce enduring works of the creative imagination. MacDowell believes that the arts, artists, and creative processes are of primary importance. MacDowell was founded in 1907 around a belief in the inherent value of providing artists with uninterrupted time and supportive spaces in which to work.
Team Credits
Design Direction: Wendy W Fok
Design Team
Lead Designer: Jessica Marquez
Architectural Designer: JJ Jin
Partnership & Collaborators
MacDowell Foundation
ClientMacDowell FoundationLocationNew York Year2025StatusIndustrial Design / Product Design / Cultural Design
