This summer, pull up a chair -- or a desk, or even a sideboard -- and see the whopping 19 furniture exhibitions in the Philadelphia area. The Asheville, N.C.-based Furniture Society holds its annual conference here June 11 to 14 and a group of locals decided to honor it with a round of coinciding exhibitions and events called Furniture 2003. While the registration-only, somewhat costly conference has workshops, demonstrations and panel discussions (on everything from wood turning to industrial design), Furniture 2003 offers shows that are (mostly) free and open to the public. So if you can’t make it into the panel "Gender Issues: Juggling Balls (No Pun Intended)," don’t worry. You can organize your own panel after seeing just a few of these shows.

“Simple & Direct: An Investigation in Furniture Design,” through Aug. 3, Ravenhill Chapel, School House Lane, 215-951-2860.

Phil Otto and Jean Won of Otto Design Group curated this show of designer's drawings and furnishings, which includes work by Neutra, Tony Meredith and Josh Owen's Philadelphia-based Owenlogik firm.

“Chairs in the Air: A Circus,” through July 20, 313 S. Broad St., www.philasculptors.org.

Sculptors and furniture makers contributed chairs to this "sculptural installation" in which donated chairs "perform"; it opens across from the Kimmel Center on June 11 starting at 6 p.m. The opening includes a performance by Spiral Q Puppet Theater.

“Daniel Jackson: Dovetailing History,” through June 20, Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery, University of the Arts, 333 S. Broad St., 215-717-6480.

The founder of the woodworking and furniture design department at U Arts gets this posthumous retrospective; 23 major works will be together for the first time. Don't miss his gorgeous treatment of materials and attention to functionality.

Nakashima Studio Tours, Wed., June 11, 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., $10 donation for Nakashima Foundation for Peace; open house, Sat., June 14; 1847 Aquetong Rd., New Hope, 215-862-2272.

The beautiful naturalism of George Nakashima, one of the most important craft furniture designers of the last century, lives on in this New Hope showroom and studio.

“Wendell Castle: Seeing in the Dark -- Recent Works,” through June 28, Wexler Gallery, 201 N. Third St., 215-923-7030.

Castle's clever works combine a sense of history with exotic woods (wormy beech, jelutong, cocabolo), while always maintaining a wry sense of humor.

For more information on the Furniture Society conference, visit www.furnituresociety.org, and see the Listings section for a full list of Furniture 2003 events.