Hand forged stainless steel trillium pin with saddle latch. Each 5’ x 7’ panel weighed approximately 300 lbs. Thanks to Todd Jack Construction for installing the 4” x 4” metal posts.
These oil lamps are from a series I called ”Elements”, with the four elements being represented in the piece. Flame for the fire, liquid for water, the open space for air and the metal and circular forms reminiscent of the earth. My hope for the work is that it can remind people of our shared human history seen in the flame and the use of the traditional arts of blacksmithing and glass blowing used to create the pieces. I made a custom tool for the glass blower to blow the oil lamps and the fittings that hold the glass into the frame matches that tool so the glass can be removed form the frame and shipped separately. Lastly I found a wick material that does not decompose under the combustion of the lamp oil so you can set it and forget it.
This knock down table is also a chair, a nod to the old telephone desks of the past. Simply pull the table top up dislodging the hinge pin that locks it into the seat, then pull up the back rest, removing the seat that locks the legs in place which will then slide apart from each other leaving 5 easy pieces to reassemble wherever is next!
The Om tables were 6 tables made for a classroom in the U of O technical science administration. It was my good fortune to find an induction forge in their arsenal of equipment. Sadly no matter how well I tuned the antique equipment it would only give me a preheat at best. Even without an anvil to help me dress the corner I am happy with the results from my first project with an upset 90 on 1” x 1/2” bar stock.
The Firehawk Helmet was inspired by my blacksmith mentor and friend Joe Elliot of the Dry Canyon Forge. Joe uses a small bent piece of copper pipe fueled from his gas tank to ignite his forge when I saw this cavalier move I thought, “why, if he can do that I can make this helmet I have in mind” in essence if he can play with fire like that I can play with fire too. My sister is the model here and the image is from the fire troupe Midnight Sun that the helmet helped to inspired into action. This piece also helped me land a spot on Junkyard Wars where I competed for two episodes.
Feast for Fifty was a major feat for fifteen students to undertake with a $2000.00 budget. In 11 weeks we created everything for a fifty people to dine on dim sum cuisine prepared by talented the chefs from Party Downtown. Every table, chair, napkin, plate, glass, carafe, serving vessel and even custom eating utensils and the lighting were designed and created by us within the budget and time constraint. The result was extraordinary.! Special thanks to Tom Bonomici for this experience because it was a highlight to my senior year at the University of Oregon.
Stainless steel and copper fire place finial, inspired by Gustav Klimt. For this project I covered the existing narrow textured bricks with the beautiful green slate my Mom picked out. I wanted the finial to be like a piece of jewelry lovely enough for my muse, my mom.
Artemis Glass Candles, were a collaboration between myself and Sarah Hashiguchi to create glass candles that never loose their elegant dimensions like traditional candles. The powder-coated metal bases nest into wood bases that have a hidden groove on the bottom to fit on a j-cleat so that the glass candles can be used as a sconce or stored safely when not in use. Special thanks to Bob Green at Noble glass, Gregory Adams at Lore Haus both for the glass work and being willing to try the experimental graphite molds I made.
The Lap Stool, named for the only joinery used in the making of the stool. The simplicity of this design brings a sturdy elegance to this everyday item. My first experience milling all of the dimensional lumber from a single slab.
Working backwards from the ending to create a new beginning. Reverse engineering brings a special challenge and I enjoy a challenge. Special thanks to Mike Leckie Sculpture for entrusting myself and the Mac Group to make the base for the Steve Prefontaine Sculpture. The base was modeled in Solidworks, CNC’d in 3 pieces, assembled, the end result added to the mold and cast in bronze.
Another medium I enjoy is looking through the lens, capturing moments of the world around me. I still gravitate towards the industrial edge but living in the Northwest I refill my battery hiking and gardening.
Musings from the drawing board. For me, every creation starts first in the realm of the imagination, then to paper before the computer or the physical world in a model or protoype.
