« back to list

05/16/2009

Rhode Island School of Design's Department of Furniture Design to Present Immaterialize at International Contemporary Furniture Fair

Students to Showcase Work at the Javits Convention Center, New York City
May 16-19, 2009
 

Providence - Leave your assumptions at the door and expect the unexpected when the RISD Furniture Design Department presents Immaterialize at the 2009 International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). Rhode Island School of Design’s contribution to this year’s ICFF showcases furniture and products that emphasize specific qualities of materials rather than their most familiar applications.

In Immaterializing Material, a fall 2008 studio course taught by Assistant Professor Lothar Windels, the designers each chose to work with a single material of their choice. The materials were not necessarily associated with furniture, and also not necessarily as structural as wood or metal, which are typically used for building furniture. A hands-on investigation with their chosen material gave each student an understanding of its properties and performance as they prepared to use it to develop a piece of furniture or a product.

“Students explored their selected materials by taking them beyond expected contexts through a rigorous research and development process,” noted Windels. “The use of one material and one fabrication process was encouraged, though a secondary material could be used as a means of ensuring structural integrity and appropriate detailing.” Throughout the semester, students developed a series of models that helped them execute final functional prototypes for the show. “Each design reinterpreted its material to make meaningful objects that evoke uplifting experiences, thereby transcending its materiality without denying it,” Windels said.

The works in this exhibition should be viewed as prototypes of thought. Although some could be mass-produced, the main focus is to open new paths for designing furniture and to display objects that help us to question our preconceived notions about products and materials.

Immaterialize will be on view at booth 1273, and will feature nine student pieces:

· In Of the Skin, Micaelan Davis [MFA 2009] went beyond the typical application for rawhide to fold and mold water-soaked buffalo hide into a sturdy, beautifully organic table with a warm, amber glow.

· In Supple,Chelsea Frost [BFA 2009] transformed everyday packing material into a surprisingly appealing set of household pillows by making multiple silicone rubber castings of bubble wrap and attaching zippers to provide support. The zippers also allow the pillows to be packed flat and then assembled into their 3D form on arrival.

· Debra Folz [MFA 2010] created a sturdy, fully functional table, fittingly called 100% Wax, first by casting industrial wax, and then pouring liquid wax over a bed of wax still in bead form to create a textured surface.

· Made of a minimum of 40% post-industrial recycled material, the Flow Chair by Jennifer Tran [BFA 2009] evolved from trial-and-error when heating 3form’s Varia Ecoresin to a malleable state and then quickly forming it by hand. Evenly spaced grooves provide a bold, graphic contrast to the undulating, organic shape of the chair.

· Inspired by the idea of making a stable structure using a process known for its softness and flexibility, Ruth Fore [MFA 2009] experimented with crochet stitches to create Crochet Crochet, a spherical wire form, with loops growing from small to large gauges. Roughly 3,000 feet of aluminum wire went into the finished piece, which was then anodized to improve its strength and stability.

· After researching the use of feathers in decorative arts, Andrew Mau [BFA 2009] created a breathtaking bowl called Perch, an unglazed porcelain piece that stands on a base of quills and supports an intricate array of tightly layered, beautifully colored pheasant feathers lining the interior. Each heart-shaped feather is precisely trimmed to provide a consistent natural color and to emphasize the contrasting interior and exterior textures.

· In Loofah Ankle Boot, Ian Horowitz [BFA 2009] explores applications of non-manufactured fabrics in footwear, demonstrating that luxury and environmental consciousness can go hand in hand. For the ankle boot, two-ply construction with quilted reinforcement throughout the upper ensures durability, with each shoe constructed of dried vegetables and a small block of poplar wood.

· The Split Seat by Isao Takezawa [BFA 2009] is made of vegetable-tanned leather, which gains structural integrity when soaked in boiling water and dried. The stool is composed of three identical pieces that were sewn together after the hardening process, with the rigidity striking the ideal balance between comfort and sturdiness; the combination of a traditional technique and a contemporary design approach opens up new possibilities for the material.

· Pour is a series of teacups and saucers made entirely of molded liquid plastic by Elisa Werbler [BFA 2009]. The forms were created through a succession of pours against a mold, each one using a different color to create not only an organic dripping effect but a clean, layered cross-section as well. Contrast is central to the pieces: the free-form drips play against the neat cross-section, and the glossy surface of the exterior contrasts with the matte interior.

Sponsored by Metropolis magazine, the 21st annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City from May 16–19, 2009. More than 600 exhibitors from 31 countries will fill the 145,000 square feet of exhibition space with the latest in design and manufacturing of contemporary furniture, seating, carpet and flooring, lighting, outdoor furniture, materials, wall coverings, accessories, textiles, kitchen and bath for the residential, home/office and commercial markets. More than 25,000 attendees are expected, ranging from interior designer to architects, retailers, designers, manufacturers, representatives, developers and members of the general public.

About RISD’s Department of Furniture Design
RISD established its Department of Furniture Design in 1995 to support and promote research and design education in the field. Through curricula that combine craft and production skills with history, theory, research and professional practices, the department’s undergraduate and graduate students explore contextual issues, integrate new technologies, and address such contemporary concerns as sustainability and human interface design. RISD’s Furniture Design Department also serves as an international resource for promoting dialogue within the field and for connecting designers, manufacturers, studio artists, curators, critics and scholars.

Through their diverse successes, the department’s many accomplished graduates showcase the outcomes of an education that underscores not only the principles and practice of furniture design, but the importance of self-awareness and responsible citizenship.

About Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) has earned a worldwide reputation as the preeminent college of art and design in the US. Today, with more than 26,000 alumni, RISD enrolls 1,926 undergraduates and 426 graduate students from the United States and almost 50 countries, offering degree programs in the fine arts, architecture, design disciplines, and art education. Each year hundreds of prominent artists, designers, critics and cultural leaders visit RISD’s Providence campus. Among its many prized resources is The RISD Museum of Art, which houses a world-class collection of art objects from Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, and art of all periods from Asia, Europe and the Americas, as well as the latest in contemporary art. For more information, visit www.risd.edu or our.risd.edu.