Morphic Resonance

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plate from ‘Kunsterformen Der Natur’ (1899-1904) by Ernst Haeckel

For the better part of the past two weeks I’ve stopped all production in order to spend time with family and nourish my exhausted body and brain. Over the holidays we’ve been making leisurely day trips, hiking the beach, cooking, napping and reading, seeing movies and spending time with friends.

I’ve been particularly re-invigorated by reading ‘Morphic Resonance’ by the brilliant and eccentric British biochemist, Rupert Sheldrake. Originally published in 1988 and recently revised, the book lays the groundwork for Sheldrake’s concept of morphic fields that might model “the means by which simpler organic forms synergetically self-organize into more complex ones, allowing a different explanation for the process of evolution itself, as an addition to Darwin’s evolutionary processes of selection and variation.” Though grounded in contemporary science, Sheldrake’s theories are not easily proven by experiment, and the book rings with a pre-modern sense of wonder and awe. Reading it has me researching the work of self taught 19th century naturalists, particularly Ernst Haeckel, who is also an accomplished artist and whose plates are shown here. Haeckel discovered several species in the course of his explorations and research, and was a major proponent of Darwinism in Germany.

Though we have yet to make any scientific breakthroughs, I’m beginning to appreciate what a productive year it’s been for Ene and myself as 2010 winds down and we enjoy a much needed respite from our busy lives on and off the wowhaus studio compound. Here are some highlights of what we’ve accomplished over the past year: two public art commissions for the cities of Oakland and San Francisco; an interior design commission for a new house in Marin County; a design commission for an observation tower/treehouse in Sonoma County; design commissions for a production dining chair, one-off conference table, and assorted stacking stools; an artist residency at Kohler; a visiting professorship at CCA; trademark registration of the ‘deep’ logo in three classes and a business plan for a Deep Craft product line. Some of these projects are recently completed and have been documented on these pages (see ‘project dispatches’ in the scroll-down menu in the sidebar). Others will soon be documented, posted and promoted as we forge ahead in the year to come.

Ene and I will soon be back in the studio and out in the field, laying the groundwork for another productive year. We’re looking forward to developing a new public art commission for the City of Santa Cruz, developing furnishings for the ‘Shed’ in Healdsburg, tooling up to manufacture my ‘deep deck’, and bringing our rural studio compound to the next level of functionality and conviviality. I wish everyone a healthy and happy 2011 and thank you for tuning in to my Deep Craft ruminations.

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plates from ‘Kunsterformen Der Natur’ (1899-1904) by Ernst Haeckel


Micro-Expedition, Sessions 12 and 13

The Gust

“The Gust”, Willem van de Velde, 1680

The bad news is that we had to cancel our final voyage as planned, due to a foul weather forecast and the state of completion of the students’ watercraft projects. The good news is that we’ve agreed to complete all vessels for a March 19 launching, the first day of the Spring Break, aligning us with a full moon, rising at 7:33 PM, just as the sun is setting. ???? ???? ??? ????? ?????? Also, the tides will be in sync with the direction of our journeys to and fro, with a 6.1′ high tide just as the moon is at its zenith around midnight. Should be a dramatic occasion.

Meanwhile, several of the students are nearly finished with their projects, particularly the SUP’s and folding dinghies. ????? ??? ??????? ?????? go fish rules Grace has been making wonderful progress with her portable catamaran and has proven to be a remarkably capable builder. ???? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? The delay in our plans will allow the students to be more thorough in detailing their vessels, with more time to make float tests and the inevitable adjustments obviated thereof. I remain confident in the group’s ability, enthusiasm and motivation to carry on, and am proud of all they’ve accomplished over the fall semester as part of my CCA Studio:Atelier, Micro-Expedition. Here are some highlights of progress made over the past two weeks: Continue reading “Micro-Expedition, Sessions 12 and 13”

Wowhaus Convivium #1

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885 jonive site plan

WOWHAUS INVITATION*

Convivium: (ecology) A geographically isolated population of a species that shows differentiation from other populations of the same species; becomes a subspecies or ecotype.

Participants: Yvonne Mouser, Adam Reineck, Jacob Mouser, Leif Hedendal, Nicole LaBue, Colby Eierman, Peter Eierman, Mimi Robinson, Aili Osteraas-Constable, Ene Osteraas-Constable, Scott Constable.

Menu: focaccia with rosemary; mushroom and barley soup with pickled peppers; roasted root vegetables; bitter green salad with late season apples; dates, satsumas and hoshigaki.



Micro-Expedition, Sessions 10 and 11

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Grace prepares the chine logs for her portable catamaran project

While the students continue to make admirable progress on their water craft, they are beginning to understand why I was so eager to encourage simplicity of design and execution early in the semester. I’ve made pains not to discourage anyone brave and bold enough to develop their own unique hull shapes, knowing that the desire to test an idea would fuel the process, and I’m especially proud of those students who were willing to take a risk, risk being the currency of exploration.

Whether they will be able to complete their craft in time for the planned excursion is of less importance at this point, though most students are in a position to finish if they bear down on it over the remaining two weeks. I originally conceived of Micro-Expedition as an exemplar of my adage, “all vessels originate with an imagined voyage“. To this end, my primary aim has been to demonstrate the importance of knowing where you are going before designing and making anything, and learning how to be your own best client in the process.

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Sarah has shaped some handsome fins for her scow-end SUP Continue reading “Micro-Expedition, Sessions 10 and 11”

Deep Deck for Shadowshop

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I photographed my new Deep Deck overlooking Tomales Bay on my way to SFMOMA

I delivered the first in a series of Deep Deck skateboards to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art yesterday, where they will be on display as part of Stephanie Syjoco’s Shadowshop project, opening on Novemver 20 through May 1, 2011. Below are a montage of images and text that will be displayed alongside the Deep Deck, which I will be custom making to order for the duration of the exhibition:

deep deck MONTAGE

The Deep Deck is the first in a line of bioregional products by Deep Craft, a hybrid brand-movement-ethos developed by artist/designer Scott Constable.

The Deep Deck concept emerged from Constable’s diversified efforts to create a regional vernacular of sustainability, tapping the unique physical and cultural geography of the Sonoma Coast and San Francisco Bay bioregions. Studio investigations and field research are archived on Constable’s deepcraft.org site, culminating in his ongoing Deep Craft manifesto.

Each Deep Deck is handcrafted according to an individual’s bodytype and riding style, utilizing unique native Californian hardwoods culled from ‘horticultural salvage’.

For Shadowshop, the Deep Deck is being produced as a limited edition, numbered series in American Elm (ulmus Americana) with wood milled from a cache of reclaimed street trees characteristic of the urban forest. Styled after the classic longboard borrowed from surf culture, Deep Deck is designed mainly for cruising and transportation, but is well suited to carving a gentle country slope, or simply hanging on a wall. To discuss a commission, please contact Scott directly at scott@deepcraft.org.


Micro-Expedition, Sessions 8 and 9

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Jack and Willey broke out the hand planes to joint a long stringer of Sitka spruce

The boats are shaping up and the students are getting fired up for our journey next month. Here’s a little gallery from the past two weeks of Micro-Expedition, the Atelier Studio I am teaching this semester at CCA as the Wornick Distinguished Visiting Professor of Wood Arts: Continue reading “Micro-Expedition, Sessions 8 and 9”