Summer Project

 I spent my summer on a different art form. The art of crafting built-in bookshelves, radiator covers and Built-in Benches. This is actually what I do to make a living and it is truly an art form. I still prefer more colorful and abstract forms of creativity, but people rarely want that in a bookshelf.

The Bookshelf is like an alter in the home. It is often the place that defines you. It tells visitor, "this is who I am." Besides holding books that interest you or have shaped your life, it holds momentous of travels, pictures of loved ones or art that inspires you.

In the long process of a job this size I often have to remind myself I am making a place for a family to be and be comfortable. As an artist I find it difficult to make box after box, which is what cabinet making is, and not get board. Remembering I am making a home more comfortable for others is often what I use to keep me going.

 jeffkimsey-carroll.com

 

Lines and Spaces

All winter I have been coming and going from a large furniture project that has at times overwhelmed my level of woodworking skill. This is good. It is good to be challenged. The fun part of the job has been the accent on the side panels of the furniture I am creating. I'll be sure to post pictures in the future of the finished products.

For years my thing has been to find ways to put a bit of organic-ness into every wood structure I create. Okay yes, how much more organic can you get than working in wood in the first place? What I am talking about is that I really do not enjoy straight line I prefer irregular and non symmetrical. If you look at my portfolio you'll see what I mean. I can do the square and true work and it's wonderful, but I am happiest running my jig saw through a large piece of plywood with no line to follow just popping out abstract it is extremely freeing.

This image is a sample I did of the accent that will adorn the furniture when it is complete

Now with this furniture project I am playing with line and space. the cuts add a fluid accent to an otherwise square piece of furniture. There is this feeling of movement, growth or change. There is a positive or negative to it depending on your experience and perspective. You might see growth as something pregnant or expanding, bringing new life or you may see a tumor, an invader of a destructive nature. Either way the accents on these pieces of furniture will reflect the natural world, as was my intent.

These images show a chair back and a closeup of the same back before it has been sanded and finished. The lightest wood is Ash. The mid tone is oak and the dark is Walnut.

This shows a more defined accent in the same style finished. to see more of this follow the link to my web.   http://www.jkcwood.com/Bigoak.html                        Jeff in the sawdust

Building a Sacred Place

Yes that's me, I've spent the past week working on a rocket ship on a nursery school playground. Really, it's what I do. I'll post a picture next week when it's done.

I am a very fortunate woodworker. I have had many opportunities to create devices or spaces for play. Building places for children to play is a sacred activity, because you are creating sacred space. Play is a powerful artistic and spiritual activity although we as a culture do not always give it that respect. Most of the time we are throwing around phrases like “stop playing around” or “ we need to stop playing and get to work”. As I learned back in my days as an educator, play is the work of children and if they are denied this developmental activity it can effect development of imagination and physical, mental and emotional strength. Play also helps children to over come fears, and develop confidence. Play is powerful stuff.

Like artists children use play to reflect life. Their play allows them to over and over again play out the situations and emotions that make up their real lives. Now I’m talking of imaginary play not games of competition or chance. In imaginary play children act out the roles of adults in their lives or characters they have read about or seen on TV. They are acting out domestic roles, jobs they see grownups doing, or they might fight against injustice or even monsters of all kinds. It is an activity that has to happen in order for the child to gather the confidence to work with others, share, and self-advocate.

So as I build a space I constantly imagine the movement of children through it. These imaginary children tell me when to sand a contact surface raise or lower work spaces or when to make something totally silly or to keep it simple. I have been fortunate to be present when real children enter a space I had a hand in making and see their minds light up as they see what’s before them. That’s an amazing feeling that you have created something that gives a sense or moment of wonder to someone. It's so cool to be able to make life fun!

Jeff 3 2 1 blast off

Here's a great article on play from Scholastic http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=10175

If you want to see more of the spaces I've built check out the link http://www.jkcwood.com/Exhibits.html