Furniture Design

As the end of the school year approaches, the start of summer begins. Unlike all the previous summers this one will not be the same, not because of Covid-19 but because someone will no longer be there. How I Spent My Summer is a wood and resin sculpture created to capture past summer memories and, as a functional coffee table, to encourage others to gather around for new stories to begin.

        The work that I find myself to be the most passionate in is when work revolves around a memory. Memories are a part of a universal language. Viewers can engage with a work that they have no connection to, but the memories of their past can resurface by the engagement with others’ memories. How I Spent My Summer was created as an homage to my Grandpa Charlie who passed away earlier this year. My Grandpa Charlie and I connected though my woodworking projects in high school, as he himself was a skilled woodworker who built his own house, garage, and cabinets. The connection we held within the art of woodworking was something symbolic and strong in the bond we had. The memories I hold about my Grandpa Charlie revolve around Goose Pond and his love of sharing stories with others. Goose Pond is represented in the deep blue resin pour on the table top. The memories that I have stem from the pond, but are alive and supported because of the ones who I got to share the memories with. The legs on the table represent this support. Using the Roman numeral “IV” and “VII” I represented the four children my grandparents have and the seven grandchildren. Without any of these pieces the table would no longer be functional, reflecting how the memories would not have existed.

        How I Spent My Summer highlights my interest in sculpture, interior design, and woodworking. The work reflects modern and natural design, by mixing the naturalness of the wood with the sharp angular cuts presented in the table legs. The two main influences for How I Spent My Summer were Dustin Coates and Joanna Gains. Dustin Coates wooden bowls have influenced me on using the natural unfinished wood for a coffee table and creating something while retaining the originality and style from nature. Dustin Coates’ is also a New Hampshire based artist whose work I saw with my Grandpa Charlie. Joanna Gains’ interior design work has been something I have admired. The way Joanna repurposes and restores furniture inspires me to not always buy new and to look for works that have character. My past work has informed this project by adding personal touches to create works instead of buying something already made. How I Spent My Summer reflects the importance of spending time with family and creating memories.