On December 28, 2008, I installed a sculpture that I have been working on with two other artists for the past three years, in XinHui, China. We have just been given the go ahead to share our story, so please follow the link to our project website that has many process photos and videos and descriptions of the piece.
July 20-Aug 5 I took a class at Penland School of Craft in Penland, North Carolina. The class was called “Unlocking the Potential of Cork.” I had a wonderful time, met a lot of new and interesting people and gained many new skills. It was great to be out in the woods exploring the potential of a new material and having all the time I needed to create what I wanted. Cork is a great new multipurpose material that I would have never thought to use in the way that my instructor Dan Michalik (www.danielmichalik.com) showed us. Please see my attached pictures of the shop and other facilities at Penland and some of the sample pieces that I worked on when I first got there.
To see the photos of my work go to:
http://www.craftcreativitydesign.org/research/windgate/message/message_all.php?user_id=52&year=2008
I recently got back from the Furniture Society Conference. It was held at Purchase College in Purchase, New York from June 18-21. The conference consisted of many workshops, demonstrations, lectures, viewing of work and plenty of time to network and meet new people in the furniture field. I was lucky enough to attend a demonstration by Daniel Michalik, who happens to be the instructor for the cork class that I am taking at Penland in a few weeks. I also attended a great demo about automotive finishing techniques for furniture. Another interesting person that I met was Park. He was a Windgate recipient last year. It was fun to talk to him about his proposal and how his plans worked out. The whole conference was really great because I got to see the Multiplicity show, Seating of New York show, work by students at Purchase College and work in the Members Gallery show. It was inspiring to see a wide variety of work and to actually meet the artists and craftsmen, hear their stories and share my own. 
Since June I have been working at Willie Willette Works. It is a custom furniture design shop in Minneapolis. I did my internship there during my Junior year at MCAD. Working has kept me busy building and learning new techniques. We work mostly with wood at WWW, so I’ve been gaining skills in that area. Here is a link to the website and this is a picture of the shop I get to work in everyday!
I graduated from the Minneaplis College of Art and Design May, 10, 2008. I am excited to start my future plans. The Windgate Fellowship is an exciting opportunity for me to expand my studies and craft. I have been busy making flight arrangements and planning lodging for my first 2 events this summer. June will be The Furniture Society conference in New York City called “State of the Craft”. The second event is studying at the Penland School of Crafts in July. I will take a course called “Unleashing the Potential of Cork”. I am greatful for these opportunities.
In late April I received the Windgate Fellowship Award to help me get started as an artist and craftsman. I had to write a complete proposal outlining the ways that I would spend the awarded money. Here is a link to the blog that I add to when I participate in activities that were outlined in my proposal. This fellowship is very prestigious and I am so proud to be one of a select few graduating seniors in the country to receive such an honorable award. Check out the website link to see my blog as well as the blogs of 9 other fellowship recipients. You can read more about the Windgate Award as well as the Center for Craft, Creativity and Design.
http://www.craftcreativitydesign.org/research/windgate/message/message_all.php?user_id=52&year=2008
I used Form Z (a 3D rendering program) to re-design a doorstop. I entered it in a contest through this website http://www.dimensionprinting.com/extreme-redesign/2008finalists.aspx and received an award for having one of the top 3 designs.
Here is the description of the project:
This is a doorstop unlike anything you’ve ever seen; no more boring rubber bumpers. This high tech mechanical product will efficiently stop your door in style. With it’s moving parts it is designed to compress flat. Without bending down or having to move the doorstop you are able to comfortably lock a door in place. Step one: just push the door open and slide it over the doorstop causing it to compress to under one half inch. Step two: after sliding the door all the way over the doorstop it will retract upright (with a small spring) allowing you to release the door while it stays open. Step three: step on the doorstop to flatten it and slide your foot and the door over it to close the door.
This product is valuable because you never need to move the doorstop. It can be attached to the floor and never need to move. This way, it won’t get lost or kicked around. I imagine the final product being cast in aluminum or a highly resilient and somewhat flexible plastic. Say YES… to stopping doors!
This publication talks about the process of me making the Wally Chair with the computer and the CNC router. Check it Out!
Click on the image to zoom in closer.
Or go to http://www.formz.com/jointstudy/JS2007/chapter3/From_Model_to_Made.pdf to see the full article.
My denmark chair is in this show. Come check it out. There will be a lot of other great work to see also. Hope to see you there.
Feb. 29 - March 30, 2008 Main Gallery: Walker Art Center Assistant Curator Yasmil Raymond and Twin Cities illustrator Eric Hanson are the 2008 jurors for MCAD’s annual juried student exhibition, which presents work by artists from all class years and departments.Opening reception will be held this Friday from 6-8 p.m.
This table has detachable leafs at both ends that second as extra tables or desks to use somewhere else in the house. It seats 6 very comfortably and is crafted out of the same OSB chip board that the chairs are out of. . 
