good wood.

"providence" / steam bent white oak

during a recent trip to the Renwick Gallery in Washington DC, i was amazed and inspired by the works of Matthias Pliessnig.  born in New Orleans, this Philadelphia based artist/craftsman designs and builds innovative furniture created from steam-bent wood.

"amada" / steam bent white oak

originally intending to build a skiff, Pliessnig was instead inspired to take techniques and methodologies  of boat construction and apply them to furniture. according to the exhibit, "Pliessnig's epiphany was the realization that a boat's skeleton--the 'stations' running from port to starboard, and 'stringers' running from bow to stern--could be adapted for seating by flipping the form upside down and contouring it to the body."

preliminary sketches for "amada"

but this artist's genius lies in his process. also on display at the Renwick were Pliessnig's sketchbooks and 3D renderings. using a brilliant combination of hand-drawn thought and computer-generated study, he arrives at a final design. such an approach lends depth and meaning to the aesthetic elegance of the final product. Pliessnig's pieces are provocative, kinetic, and ergonomic...all while  representing an ideal fusion of tradition and progression.

 rhino 3D study model for "amada" 

explore more of his stellar works here.