ART 313 – Woodworking II
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Jumping back into woodworking was very exciting after learning more and more at ELISAVA about creating products and furniture in 3D. Unbeknownst to me, Advanced Wood (Wood II through VI classes are combined depending on the semester’s focus) was all about upholstery. While I had not expected to work with upholstery as a part of woodworking, it went a long way in furthering my skills as a craftsman. Our first project was simply to teach us the basics of sewing by making a pillow. Our pillows were intended to be pretty simple since it was just a skill builder, but me being me, I wanted to make it a little more interesting then just a basic shape. So, I made a text bubble pillow.
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The second project was to create an ottoman, which built the basis of our skills in frame-making, adding cushioning, and covering with fabric. While in Barcelona, I came across a designer named Miguel Milá as a part of my designer book (which you can find here) and his design for a floor lamp called Cesta. I really liked the design, but to get an official one would cost over a thousand dollars, so I felt inspired to try and make one myself as an ottoman. Despite primarily focusing on the act of upholstering, I wanted to bring back the woodworking aspect I had missed being in Barcelona by doing by creating the exterior cherry legs.
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Our final project was a form that brought together two upholstered surfaces seamlessly (usually creating a chair). This chair constantly evolved throughout the process (sometimes unwillingly, with the back of my wooden frame splitting and having to be redone) and I would still consider it unfinished, but what is present I am proud of. The project is inspired by Montserrat, a mountain outside of Barcelona that I visited via a similar color palette, and set of layered legs that follows its topology. Unfortunately, I was unable to complete the legs in time before this project was due, so only the first layer was added at the bottom. I wanted this chair to be wide and comfortable with a curved back that conforms to the spine, which I am happy to have achieved nicely. Overall, this chair was a true passion project and I am eager to try and finish it to a place I am much happier with.
