Click here to learn more about Deep Craft Atelier, a pop-up store at Storefront Lab.
Tsuru Progress
Piero prepares to hoist the sculpture into position.
Ene and I finally got to see the fully assembled crane sculpture for our Tsuru Project. Once again, Artworks Foundry has done a masterful job brazing the sculpture’s bronze skin around a superstructure of welded, stainless steel tubing. We’ve decided to give the bird a light golden patina, and the stainless steel support pole a modeled, flat black.
When installed at the new Ralph L Carr Justice Center in Denver later this summer, the bird will appear to be soaring over a circular mound of domed earth, planted with native grasses that will obscure the post, about half of which will be embedded in the mound, connected to a cast concrete footing at grade.
To read more about the development of Tsuru, please click here and scroll down.
Deep Jersey
Clothing Designer Gabriel Russo models the Deep Jersey.
I’ve been collaborating with my friend Gabriel Russo on the first in a series of Deep Craft garments, an open-neck, pull-over jersey. Inspired by the vintage LL Bean canvas fisherman’s tunic I wore daily as an apprentice house builder and later as a deckhand on a salmon seiner, the Deep Jersey evolved over several conversations and took shape under the capable hands of Mr Russo, master pattern-maker, clothing designer and all around style maven.
We worked together to alter the shape of the original tunic to suit a more contemporary fit, less about work and more about leisure. Using himself as a model, Gabriel made a new pattern; we both tried on the canvas prototype and agreed upon some further alterations to optimize the jersey’s multi-functionality and comfort in motion without losing its simplicity. Gabriel made a new series of prototypes in stretch denims of various weights and colors, shortened the collar, added a button loop at the neck, and emphasized the interior pocket with colorful stitching.
We’ll be introducing the Deep Jersey at my Deep Craft Atelier pop-up store project later this summer at Storefront Lab in San Francisco’s Mission District. Meanwhile, we’ve already begun to talk about a suitable trouser.
Gabriel tries on the original tunic and measures for alterations.
We critiqued Gabriel’s canvas prototype on board ‘Suddenly’.
Sand Patterns 10
Snow Park Public Art Finalists
The lakefront block of 20th Street will be converted to a pedestrian promenade.
Wowhaus are finalists in the public art component of an ambitious restructuring of Snow Park and the surrounding waterfront of Lake Merritt in the City of Oakland. Once again, we’re thrilled at the opportunity to contribute to the geography of public life, especially in our beloved home town.
The project is funded by Oakland’s Measure DD Lakeside Green Streets initiative, and there are multiple sites to consider for a public art intervention, with focus on the conversion of the lakeside block of 20th Street into a multi-use pedestrian promenade. We’ve been preparing to make a presentation to community members about how we’d approach the project, and how our past work might inform our strategy. I spent the other day circumnavigating the lake on bicycle, documenting built structures, natural elements, pedestrian traffic and significant landmarks. Ene and I are both excited for our interview and would be truly honored to get the commission.
View of Snow Park from across Lake Merritt.
The Simple Chair Revisited
My latest Simple Chair prototype is ready for presentation.
Following some welcome critique with the client I’ve modified the design of my Simple Chair and made a new prototype. The new chair is a little wider, with a slightly taller backrest, more mortised joints, beefier legs and wider but skinnier components, all realized in white ash from the Pacific Northwest.
My original concept was pretty close to the mark, but was wanting in comfort and stability and held a bit too stridently to my desire to make a dining chair from one repeated part. The original spirit remains in tact, with improvements on all fronts. I’m going to recommend the chair be whitewashed with milk paint in production, a simple, non-toxic and easily maintained alternative to other paints and finishes.
Deep Craft Atelier at Storefront Lab
Storefront Lab, at 337 Shotwell, San Francisco (screen grab from google maps)
I’m honored my Deep Craft Atelier has been selected to be the lead-off project for Storefront Lab, David Baker and Yosh Asato’s experiment in community engagement, public space and commerce in San Francisco’s Mission District. Beginning July 23rd, I will convert the space to a workshop and weekly retail venue featuring my Deep Deck longboard and other Deep Craft goods now under development. I’ve invited a group of friends to design and make other small products that complement the scope and scale of a pop-up, conceptual ‘board shop’ that will be open to the public on three consecutive Saturdays between July 23 and August 12.
My friends and I will make things collaboratively during weekday working hours, ranging from skate/surf/bike-related goods to clothing, housewares, jewelry and graphics. I’ve invited guest chefs to prepare food for public Saturdays, when we will offer our limited production wares for sale to the public. I’ve also invited several of my artist friends dispersed around the country to produce 2d works that loosely interpret the idea of ‘seascape’ to hang on the walls.
I also plan to host a series of human-powered excursions exploring the Mission and its surroundings on three consecutive Sundays. I’d like to have one on foot, one on skateboards and one on bicycle. If you are interested in leading such an excursion or know someone who may, please leave me a comment or drop me a line at scott@deepcraft.org. Meanwhile, stay tuned as the project shapes up!
