Bradleys great neighbors, furniture artists

Published 5:34 pm Monday, August 2, 2010

To the Editor:

Tryon, North Carolina has been known for years as a Mecca for artists and writers. We have seen and met some of these talented people and are proud to call them friends and neighbors.

I am happy to tell of another artist in our town that I was fortunate enough to hear speak last week to the Greenville Woodworkers Guild in the J. Harley E. Bonds Career Center in Greer.

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Don Bradley (father of Kevin and husband of Helen) is a world-acclaimed furniture maker. Don and Helen live in Tryon and work out of a converted horse barn adjoining their home, where Dan designs and builds furniture of true museum quality.

Helen, his chief assistant, performs all the finishing work on these beautiful pieces. Bradley furniture is owned by prominent collectors, captains of industry, and corporations across our country and internationally.

Don and his wife are very humble people, but when you hear their story and see the artful pieces of furniture they have produced over the last 35 years, you will be amazed at the talent, dedication and friendliness of this wonderful couple.

Don has given me guidance in a few of my furniture-making projects. He has always been so willing to share with people that are lovers of working with wood.

Just another story of the talent, friendliness and sharing that exists in our Tryon, North Carolina.

John Gargiulo