End of a Long Year

Well the year is just about done here at the school. As of right now there is not much going on. We are building a set of 8 "Uno" chairs to try and sell them next year to help fund our final exhibition. So that is keeping me busy enough.

As for much else there isn't alot. The 2nd year exhibition was really nice. I was told at the last minute that my table was not going to be displayed. The reason was it was thought that it would look funny if only 1 first year was displaying. Needless to say I was really disappointed. Actually that's not true I was really pissed off at the whole thing. But it's over and all is well. Now it's nothing to do for a few days amd then we are off to New Zealand for 10 days. After that I will be looking for a part time job. So wish me luck.

I'll let you all know how the trip goes. Until then be good and eat all those veggies.

Kaleo

FINALLY!!!!

Well it's finally done. I spent the last 3 days sanding and touching up and oiling and repainting that then oiling again. Only to find that I missed a spot and had to sand back and reapply paint, only then to oil again. I'll tell you this, I will never paint again. It has been a nightmare. But I have it done in time for the exhibition, and that was the goal. Only other 1st year student finished there table. Although there are still 3 unofficial weeks left in the semester. So I guess they could get them done. But we had the critique yesterday and the grading happened.


So anyways let me give you the write up about my table.

Wanting to challenge the look and feel of a traditional hall table I embarked on designing something unique, something that you might not have seen before. Not wanting to have 4 distinct legs, I turned to the design of the Uno chair by Neil Erasmus. Drawing from that chair, I decided to use frames as means to support the table. I was also turned on to Charles Rennie Mackintosh. His use of strong rectilinear shapes suited my own design aesthetic. This is where “Stark” was born. Named “Stark” for it’s stunning contrast between the ebonized Tasmanian Blackwood and the jaw dropping Huon Pine top. With this piece I wanted to let the design talk for itself and not let the timbers do all the talking. My desire was to have people be drawn in by the design and then notice the little beauties. Things like the beautiful bird’s eye huon pine top, the hand cut dovetails that cut ever so slightly through the front of the drawers. I especially want people to notice the back design and see the very intricate array of pieces that were each cut and hand fitted together individually, then left with a slight bevel on the front edges. All to subtly highlight the beautiful bird’s mouth joints.


Sounds pretty nice huh? Well it is pretty nice, there are somethings that I would change if I did it again. But for being the first major piece of furniture that I not only built, but completely designed, I am really happy with the results. I have already received really good feedback from it, the head of the school of architecture was in the other day and I overheard him tell my instructor that he thought it was just stunning. I hope all goes well Friday night at the exhibition. I'll let you all know. Until then

Almost there

This last week was a really long week. I think it has to do with the fact that I am completely tired of this project. All I have thought about for the last 8 weeks has been this bloody hall table. Now don't get me wrong I have enjoyed building it. But for the last week I have been so ready for it to be done.

But to report it is almost there. The project is due on Tuesday morning. And as of right now all I have left is to glue up one drawer and fit it in. And slap on a couple coats of oil and she will be DONE. So by Monday night, if I drank I would be at the pub celebrating.


As it look right now I will be the only person in the class to finish this project on time. The good thing about that is that I will be able to show this table at the Graduating students exhibition next Friday. This exhibition will be held at the Design Centre in Launceston, Tasmania, and will go for 2 weeks. So hopefully it will be a good experience. I'll post more on that next week. Here is the website address for the design centre ( http://designcentre.com.au )

This weekend there is a craft show in Deloraine here. It's said to be the biggest craft show in the southern hemisphere. We laugh because almost everything here is said to be the biggest in the southern hemisphere. I think that Australians forget about other huge countries like South Africa, Argentina, Chile and what about Brazil there are like 200 million people there to Australia's 20 million. Anyways, the school has a booth there and I am showing my box and "8" Table there. Which from what I here is getting a lot of interest. Because I priced it at 350.00 dollars.


Well I'll leave you now, until next week, be good have fun and don't forget to wash behind your ears.

Kaleo