round dining table by Joshua Vogel of Black Creed Mercantile Trading BCMT

Upstate Art + Culture, We ARE Upstate NY

We Are Upstate NY with Artisan and Woodworker Joshua Vogel of BCMT

By inside + out | April 8, 2025

We Are Upstate NY with furniture maker, artisan and sculptor Joshua Vogel of Black Creek Mercantile & Trading (BCMT). Meticulous and detail-oriented, Joshua’s love of the process and deep connection with his materials shine through in his exquisite designs, transforming them into true works of art, from bespoke furniture to hand-carved kitchenware and captivating objets d’art. After leaving New York City for the Hudson Valley, Joshua returned to a more simplified lifestyle and design philosophy. His studio and gallery in Kingston, New York, reflect this journey. Let’s get to know Joshua Vogel.

INSIDE+OUT: Where are you originally from and how did you wind up in the Hudson Valley?

Joshua Vogel: I am originally from New Mexico. I say that my heart is still very much stuck in the Rocky Mountains, but I have lived in New York longer than anywhere else in my life. In my twenties, I moved to New York City and started coming upstate to “escape” the grind and to go fishing. I never imagined myself to be a city guy, I have always been more comfortable living in the woods. The Hudson Valley does have a certain magnetism, perhaps I was drawn here.

What inspired you to become a woodworker and furniture designer? What was your journey?

Joshua Vogel: I believe that some things choose you. I can’t say that I grew up with a clear path towards living a creative life, or woodworking and there have certainly been many hurdles along the way; but in retrospect, I have always done this type of work. Natural materials have always spoken to me and I have always sought to express my ideas in a 1:1 fashion. Practically speaking, after a while, it becomes a big part of how you communicate and what you have to say. I joke about it, but I’m not really qualified to do anything else.

“Work inspires work. One idea leads to another, the love of making things and the desire to do better, to push ahead – excites me” – Joshua Vogel

Black table by Joshua Vogel of Black Creed Mercantile Trading BCMT

What inspires your work and designs?

Joshua Vogel: Work inspires work. One idea leads to another, the love of making things and the desire to do better, to push ahead – excites me. That’s the nature of craft, learning a skill, using the skill, and trying to create a little magic.

What are the most challenging and most rewarding aspects of running your business?

Joshua Vogel: Being independent is really important to us. But having a small creative business is not always easy and making things is never a simple affair. There are always a whole host of things that can go wrong or that are inherently dangerous. What I want to happen vs. what does. At the end of the day, there is a very direct relationship between our productivity and the health of the business. That clarity can be a tough pill but it can also be refreshing. I count myself very lucky to love what I do, which I remind myself is reward enough.

You are a co-founder of BCMT Gallery. What inspired the Gallery and tell us about the work you show there.

Joshua Vogel: I think that an important part of creativity is sharing. “Art cannot happen in a vacuum.” We have always tried to push the line between art and craft. What is different about BCMT Gallery now is that we are also showing the works of other like-minded artists. Kelly has coordinated a whole group of works that complement each other in their investigation into the natural world. Facilitating that conversation is one thing, also participating in it is a whole other wonderful opportunity.

BCMT Gallery in Kingston NY

“An important part of creativity is sharing. Art cannot happen in a vacuum” – Joshua Vogel

What is the biggest misconception about your work?

Joshua Vogel: I try hard to make things look easy or simple, distilled down to basic structural elements or pared back to their essence. None of that is easy or simple.

What makes living in the Hudson Valley special for you?

Joshua Vogel: The forest, the river. I love the seasons, here we have all four. The autumn constantly amazes me anew with each passing year. The natural beauty. The light. I look up at the sky regularly and think how special that it is here. It is like living in a painting. Peach colored clouds and an aquamarine sky. Also the density. There is just enough elbow room. My commute is manageable and I can get to the shop traversing only one traffic light for the whole drive. Practically speaking, one of the best things for us about living here is that we can get our groceries directly from the farm where it is grown.

“The Hudson Valley does have a certain magnetism, perhaps I was drawn here.” – Joshua Vogel

What impact does your business have on your community?

Joshua Vogel: I have always tried to lead the way in my field, or at least to forge my own path. We attract customers from around the world, and the gallery offers world class work right here in the Hudson Valley. We have an open studio policy for people who are curious. We employ a small crew in the workshop and we do regular community outreach here in Kingston. For our community at large, we continue to innovate new designs, make beautiful work and investigate what it means to be a small and unique manufacturer in today’s modern world.

What local businesses do you rely on to be successful?

Joshua Vogel: Many of our business relationships are based on trust and friendship. We rely on these connections to keep the whole thing moving forward. We have a network of suppliers and local subcontractors that help us to produce and deliver our work. Moving services, tree services, lumber milling, metal work and metal casting. “It takes a village.”

What is missing in the area that you wish we had?

Joshua Vogel: I miss the local newspaper. A real, regular subscription, paper – not virtual or online supported, but used and needed by the local community.

Local Love: What local businesses do you most frequent / should we know about?

Joshua Vogel: I don’t know about frequent. I am not a big shopper – and I am always at work. I am probably the last person to ask about where to go and what to do. When we need things, we try to shop as “small” as possible. Veritas farms. Old Ford Farm. Churchtown Dairy. Seasonally we look forward to shopping at Montgomery Place Orchard when they open. I like wandering through Zaborski’s Emporium when I get a chance, even if the point isn’t shopping for anything at all.

Modern occasional chair by artisan Joshua Vogel of BCMT Co

Who or what inspires you personally?

Joshua Vogel: I love History. I am a big fan of mother nature for personal inspiration. For me, that’s a “who” and a “what”, and we are lucky here to be surrounded by a dynamic, temperate forest – from the Catskill mountains to the Shawangunk Ridge, down to the river. Here in the Hudson Valley, the walkway over the Hudson is a great place to catch a view and get some fresh air. Storm King Art Center is super inspirational, especially Martin Puryear’s new brickwork piece “Look Out”. The ever wonderful Opus 40 of Harvey Fite’s is a testament to artistic vision, hard work and tenacity. And of course Frederic Church’s Olana commands and contemplates some of the most special vistas that our area has to offer.

Tell us something about yourself people would be surprised to know.

Joshua Vogel: I can sing the Finnish National Anthem (just the first verse).

What do you do for fun? What are some of your favorite ways to unwind and unplug when you are not working?

Joshua Vogel: I am always working, there is no time for fun. Just kidding. I am not always at work. I love to be outside – anytime, anywhere. I like to travel when I can. We try to plan adventures to places that we are curious to see or like to visit. Montreal is very close. A quick trip through the Adirondacks and you can visit a whole different world. I love spending time with my family. We like to bake and cook and we enjoy playing music together. My daughter is teaching me how to play the ukulele – that’s pretty fun.