Collaboration Among Friends and a Stunning Performance

In one way or another, many of us who build functional design are systems integrators even if the subsystems we use are articles supplied by other artisans. The metal pipes I use to build an organ come to mind. We often cannot do it all by ourselves, and employ the skill sets of others in our work.

I had the opportunity early this week to see one of my own projects integrated into the musical performance of a folk group located here in Minneapolis. I built a tap board for the group, and describe it in more detail here.

To think that something that came out of my workshop could so collaboratively integrate with performance style combining folk music with dance in such a powerful and expressive way produced a lasting impression on me. The performance the other night was simply stunning.

Life is great when someone decides to do something that maybe hasn't been done before, and succeeds at doing it like Molly and Chase have done. I sincerely appreciate the collaboration that let me be part of it.

Pluralistic Woodworking and Design

This set of speakers represents a sort of capstone project in a way. I named them the Pluralists because of the many different woods that I used in their construction.

I computer modeled the box and vent dimensions using driver parameters, and from there I solids modeled a unique visual design to produce working drawings adding to the technological challenge that even this small project represented.

Consider also the number of diverse construction techniques used here on such physically small objects. Dovetailed boxes, veneered front and back plates, computer numerically control routed speaker openings, cross grain routed mortises, and angled tenons represent most of the challenging construction methods used to complete this design.

A quick read through any issue of Fine Woodworking magazine will reveal that my current work does not represent old world craftsmanship typically represented by hand tool methods, something previously discussed here in this blog. But new techniques are offering me new challenges and opportunities for design growth while still allowing me to maintain high standards of artisan craft.

More Behind the Not Yet Finished Method

My previous post about completing a project that would find itself yet unfinished because it was now functionally being used to produce new outcomes got me thinking about a segment of the population that finds itself bothered by my apparent inability to complete certain projects that I start. This population segment believes that you finish what you start regardless.

That segment should take a closer look at my blog entries before coming to conclusions that do not fit the direction I take with some of the projects that I classify as learning projects. Learning projects to me are those that teach something about a process or technique that I want to try before applying it to a more critical design whose outcome really matters. Like one commissioned by a client.

Take my shelving unit project for instance. I began building that project to evaluate where my workshop stood in its ability to produce larger projects after having built smaller studio projects for so long. I was able to see and correct deficiencies in shop layout and equipment as a result. That project was interrupted by the last one that happened to be paid for by a client, but not before its important outcomes had concluded.

The current speaker system project now making its way through my workshop is another example of a learning project that originally began as an opportunity to try a new dovetail jig which I again used in building the most recent client based project. I restarted that speaker project now as a way to fill in some free time before I possibly return to the much larger shelving unit project. That is if the shelving unit project proves beneficial to my current workshop goals.

Learning projects are great. I encourage anyone to try them when resources allow. There is no rush to finish something that proves its value in what it teaches once that teachable moment is understood, and can be further applied. I do though usually finish all projects that I start. Eventually.