Savannah

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  Robert Bazemore
  Savannah
  B.S., Winthrop University.
  
  
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  Sheila Edwards
  Savannah
  B.A., Marquette University; M.F.A., Savannah College of Art and Design.
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  Sheila Edwards has been a member of the furniture design faculty since 2004. As promotional liaison for the School of Design, she works to promote the school’s departments through industry trade shows and international exhibitions, including the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York, Salone Satellite in Milan, Sculpture Objects and Functional Art Exposition in Chicago, and others. Her experience in design and management, as well as in wood, metal and plastic fabrication, solidify her teaching methods that use tech-based machinery, CAD and graphics software to push the boundaries of design.
  
  Courses:
  

  • Design Studio: Electronic Furniture Design
  • 3-D Computer-aided Design for Furniture
  • Furniture Design Senior Project
  • Issues in Furniture Design
  • Directed Research in Furniture Design

  
  
  
  
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  Aaron Heisler
  Savannah
  B.A., Western Maryland College; M.F.A., Savannah College of Art and Design.
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  Aaron Heisler joined the SCAD furniture design faculty in 2007. His professional background includes experience as a blacksmith, woodworker and industrial tool designer, all of which have influenced his approach to the furniture design classroom. He emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between fine craft, inventive design, traditional technique and technological exploration. Heisler also runs his own design studio, which specializes in custom design and fabrication of hand-forged metal furniture and other functional art.
  
  In 2005, Heisler was a winner in the annual NICHE magazine design competition.
  
  Courses:
  

  • Furniture Practices: Metal
  • Furniture Practices: Welding
  • Materials and Techniques
  • Experimental Metal Fabrication

  
  
  
  
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  Antonio Larosa
  Chair
  Savannah
  M.Arch., Polytechnic University of Milan
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  Italian-born furniture designer Antonio Larosa studied architecture and design at Milan Polytechnic University, and moved to the United States following graduation. For 20 years he was an independent architect-designer, working on a wide range of projects including architecture, interior design, graphics, exhibitions and furniture. Most recently, he was also a member of the furniture and interior design faculty at Arizona State University.
  
  He has designed numerous collections of furniture and accessories for the residential and contract markets. Many are currently manufactured in Europe and the U.S., and are marketed and sold worldwide.
  
  Visit his Web site.
  
  Courses:
  • Furniture Design Senior Project II
  • Furniture Studio I: Conceptual Studies
  • Furniture Studio II: Contextual Studies
  • Furniture Design M.A. Final Project
  

  
  
  
  
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  George Perez
  Savannah
  A.S., Middlesex Community College; B.S., Southern Connecticut State University; M.F.A., University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth.
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  George Perez has been a full-time faculty member at SCAD since 1996. He also has taught summer courses at the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth, as well as a summer workshop at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine. His interests in the furniture-making process range from functional to conceptual work, and include 2-D and 3-D creations in a variety of materials, including wood and plastics.
  
  Exhibitions:
  

  • Haystack faculty exhibition, Blue Heron Gallery, Deer Isle, Maine, 2002
  • "Big Picture Show," Pei Ling Chan Gallery, Savannah, Ga., 2003
  • "Craft Transformed" retrospective exhibition, Star Gallery, New Bedford, Mass., 2003 (selected from University of Massachusetts alumni for exhibition)

  Honors:
  

  • Best of Show, "Faith and Form," Ritz Gallery, Brunswick, Ga., 2000

  Memberships:
  

  • The Furniture Society

  
  
  
  
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  John Pierson
  Savannah
  A.B., M.A., San Diego State University.
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  John Pierson has taught furniture design at SCAD since 1997. He established, owned and operated JM Pierson and Company, Fine Contemporary Furniture Makers from 1984-97. He taught furniture design classes at Miracosta, Palomar, Southwestern and Mesa community colleges, and his work has been exhibited and published primarily in California. His article, "Bent Lamination," appeared in the December 1995 issue of Fine Woodworking Magazine.
  
  Courses:
  

  • Materials and Techniques
  • Design Studio: Introduction to Furniture
  • Furniture Practices: Laminated Form
  • Furniture Practices: Seating Design
  • Survey of Furniture Design
  • Evolution of Furniture Design

  
  
  
  
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  Jason Wech
  Savannah
  Jason Wech, B.F.A., The University of Georgia; M.F.A., SCAD.