Michael GILMARTIN

GILMARTIN, Michael J. Michael J. Gilmartin passed away on May 17 at the age of 65. Michael was a well-known and highly respected woodworker and furniture designer in Atlanta for nearly 40 years. Known specifically for 'The Gilmartin Chair', an award winning contemporary rocker carved from marine-fir plywood, Michael's works are in the permanent collections of several renown art museums, including the High Museum of Art, The Mint Museum (Charlotte, NC), The Brooklyn Museum of Art (Brooklyn NY), and Mobile Museum of Art (Mobile, Ala.) He was curator for one of the former Museum of Design Atlanta's most successful shows, "Talking Furniture Design: The Language of Contemporary Southeastern Artisans," among the featured artists was the Honorable Jimmy Carter. A skilled craftsman and artist, Michael was exhibited nationally in numerous galleries and special exhibitions, and his work is prized by collectors throughout the United States, Japan and South America. A native New Yorker, Michael was a graduate of Chaminade High School, Binghamton University, and SUNY Buffalo where he earned his MBA. He also attended Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina. Michael was a member of a large and gregarious family. He was pre-deceased by his father, James. He leaves behind his mother, Adelaide; sisters Christine Cavanaugh (Thomas), Eileen Gilmartin (David Lavallee), and Dorothy Acquino (Dominick); brothers Bob and Jim (Ann). He so enjoyed his nephews, niece, step-nephews and step-niece and his many grand nephews and grand nieces. He particularly took great pleasure in the company of his numerous artist friends, colleagues, neighbors and clients. A memorial service celebrating Michael's life and talents will be held at a later date.