art with a day job
“Art, like design, is everywhere.” ~Jason Kontos, editor in chief, New York Spaces
And so, it is written.
But not only do art and design surround us; sometimes, they like to merge.
There are certain products out there that reach a whole new playing field, and are appreciated more for their sculptural value than anything else. In other words, it’s not just a light or a chair or a bench we’re talking about anymore—it’s a piece of art.
As you scroll down, you’ll certainly notice a trend. These designers (ahem...artists) strive for something MORE—MORE than just a light source, and more than just a place to rest your weary feet. They create something to look at!
Aswoon™/Susan Woods Studio
Susan Woods, founder of Aswoon™/Susan Woods Studio, LLC, says nothing she creates goes on the market unless it reaches a certain standard she sets for herself and her work, which she credits to her background in fine arts (she used to own a bronze foundry). Woods is currently developing pieces that reflect the state of the economy but still reach the level of taste her products are known for. Her medium of choice is often plywood, but also brings old mattress springs back to life through her work, giving bowls and magazine racks more to hold than just “stuff.”
3form LightArt
Not too long ago 3form made a very smart acquisition and their LightArt division was born. Ryan Grey Smith is a graduate of the University of Southern California Architecture Program and for a time oversaw Dale Chihuly’s (renowned glass blower) architecture department, managing museum and location installations. He opened his own firm, Grey Design Studio, in 2003, which in turn joined 3form in October of 2008 to start offering these one-of-a-kind lighting solutions in 3form’s signature eco-resin.
Smith says he wishes architecture schools would return to their roots and start reinforcing the importance of art appreciation and drawing by hand, rather than by a mouse. It would create more original work.
White Forest Pottery
The Merge Cup, a collaboration between Nancy Bauch of White Forest Pottery and Thomas Ryan Barkman (a fine woodworker), proves that beauty is born out of the simplest of ingredients. Porcelain and wood are combined with a food grade stainless steel fastener. The saucer doubles as a lid.
Any counter would be honored to have this placed atop it.
Aquaovo
Manuel Desrochers didn’t want to create just another water filter. He wanted to design something that people wouldn’t just hide in their kitchens, but put out in the open as a centerpiece of their wellness goals.
All materials used in Aquaovo’s Ovopur water filtration system are used for a reason, as it imitates what nature does to water, using gravitation to filter rather than reverse osmosis. The egg shape of the product is to ensure that the water can move freely and organically.
As a result of this method, it was the design community rather than the green crowd that stood up and took notice. Now this “water filter” is in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ design lab. The company will soon be launching a personal filtration system that the consumer can carry with them wherever they go.
Kim Westad Ceramics
The Stacked series, from Kim Westad Ceramics, stems from industrial and architecturally-inspired forms, she says. Although vases, they were created to stand on their own as sculptural vessels. Displayed all together, they lend well to a cityscape appearance.
