Orange Juice

[rderr.com]

My newest crazy is bent wood. I've created an armchair that now serves as a jig for a chaise longue. The back of the original is to low, so, instead of scraping it I've mounted a series of clamps that follow the higher back then follows the original arms (asymmetric bye-the-bye) and the back legs. I've projected the curve of the back legs to a point 4 feet on the ground in front of the chair where the higher left arm curves down to meet them (the back legs). Once I've a working prototype of the chaise I'll go back to the higher backed arm chair So from "lemons " I've made orange juice. Or something like that.

Robert

[jwebb]

That's beautiful, Robert, as is the light fixture ! Are you glueing this up? Please show us some later stages.

[Saint B]

What kind of wood have you used here? It is very nice, I also think that the lighting is fitting and clever. Lighting is something that is such a large part of a piece. I feel often times it is not given enough attention too, it is nice to see how you have incorperated your materials into the armature of the light. It offers a nice balance to the chair.
b

[JAZ]

The asymmetry is nice. Makes you wonder why so much furniture is symmetrical. Good idea.
what about the seat? Wood also?

[rderr.com]

Thanks for the compliments. The light fixture was the “in the begin’”. There is an architect in my studio. He is rather messy. Lying around were 1”x3/32”x 3’ more or less. I picked up two of them of different lengths and pinched the ends together. Voila a nice elegant curve. “What can you do with that?” me asked me. I needed lights. So… and now I have four models: floor, table, wall and ceiling. The floor model develops from 8 feet to 16 feet; table from 1 to 2, wall from 3 to 6 and the ceiling has a diameter of 4to 8 feet. All swivel on a horizontal axis of 180 degrees and can be raised and lowered. The next “What If Moment” came when me asked me “what if you did that in three dimensions.” That is 6 pieces of wood of 3 different lengths all joined at their extremities. What gives is a triangular pyramid that on one side is “table top” high and turned over “bar top” high. From table to chair is not very far.

The asymmetric Jaz comes from observing myself “Where are you comfortable?” Answer, “One arm draped over the top of something at just under shoulder height and the other supported in a slope toward the crotch. It is an old idea of mine here illustrated by one of my “Waitn’ for Godo” things that I call “Mike’s Lap of Luxury” You are setting quite literally in the lap of God or Adam. Your choice of which is what.

Robert

[rderr.com]

The Chaise is now a free standing object. There are only 10 more layers to go. My Belgian friend Eliane would say," Il est member du tribu Il-n'y-a-que". He is a member of the only-left-to-do tribe. Once the lines are "drawn" that is to say two layers of wood ( pine 2x4's cut in 3/32") are glued together the other layers can be afixed outside the jig. Each layer takes about 24 hours. I first soak in water for several hours, then layer them on and let dry for a couple of hours, then clamp them down with white carpenters glue

Thanks Jaz for the sugesstion of a wooden seat. I'm still not sure how to finish it off. I like canning, but did see at the ArtCar Parade here in Houston a Honda laminated in ash and walnut absolutely fab. These prototypes are open for sugestions.

Robert

[sculptor]

lemons to comfortably sitable art

designed with use in mind

the idea of creating a freeform curve and using the one to jig the next-----so elegant-so obvious in hindsite---this idea is a keeper----

for sitting comfort I like the caning--it yields to me bum and lets it breath--helps keep the itches away.

or stretched leather-----I met a woman who soaks leather and then molds it wet to form bas reliefs, faces, etc-- seems that should work for other uses--but I ain't tried it yet.

keep posting
cool?
rod

[rderr.com]

Quote Rob "...keep posting
cool?
rod"

It has taken a bit of time to get back to the bent wood chaise, but here it is almost completed. I've taken over the gallery where I have my studio, and run it as a coop- "you cooperate, I dictate!" kind of thing. Even at that it is like heardin' cats. And takes almost all my time.

In the calendar of events we are commin' up on two biggies, The Art Crawl (I'll see 5,000 people in one afternoon) and the Kerrville Furniture Show. The bent wood chaise and armchair are for the 2205 edition. This year I'm showin' the bronze anthropomorphic things, Le Fauteuil, La Table, and the Hand of Prometheus. In the last 3 shows I've won every prize except 1st. Wish me luck.

Robert

[sculptorsam]

Good luck, Robert. The new chair looks great. Very inviting though, is it safe to sit down on?

[rderr.com]

"...is it safe?" end quote Sam

Sam,

Sometimes it takes a while to be able to ansewer a question. The chaise has been around now for a year and is still standing. The other day this kid floped down in it with-out so much as a bye-the-bye. 6ft. 8inc. and 320lbs- the chair did not move. It weighs about 5lbs. in bent wood. This near future I'm adoin' it in iron bar. That will be more weighty. Will post the new model when finished.

Robert

ps. It is also very confortable.

[wasabi]

The chair almost looks like it would "work" in current view or by hanging it by the front point where they come together (like a chinese basket). maybe next chair...