Garth is a recovering chemist. His path towards and then away from the hard sciences began with an undergraduate degree in chemistry at Grinnell College. He completed a PhD in organic chemistry four years later at the University of Iowa. He left the cornfields of Iowa for two years of post doctoral research with Professor William S. Johnson at Stanford University. Five long years as a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center followed. At the end of 2000 Garth left academia to pursue his growing passion for designing and building custom furniture. After selling a floor lamp of his own design, Jones Furniture Designs was born. In August of 2001 he became a partner in a new venture, the Slaughterhouse Gallery & Studios. He apprenticed for six months at LeFort Fine Furniture outside Boston. Currently he is hard at work on commissioned furniture with his apprentice Barbara Butler and continues to work on the Slaughterhouse with partner Don Reed. For a photo of these rascals (and Rozie the shop dog) click here.