Written by: Randy Weersing - Randy Weersing Furniture Designs
OK, you've heard it before - How virtuous it is to buy
local, custom designed, hand crafted, free-range, planet-friendly, gluten-free,
gender neutral, politically correct products. Add adjectives at will, available
space limits me to a few. I believe it, but I won't go on about it, you're
either on board or not. I would like to tell you however, what it is about this
work that keeps me energized and engaged.
Having a piece custom designed and built is a valuable
opportunity to make a statement: a statement of what you think is important and
worthwhile, an affirmation of values by a person who appreciates the dedication and
respects the sacrifices of those who create it.
Custom builders of art furniture are not doing this to
gain fame and fortune, for few ever achieve this. We design and build to create beauty in form
and function, to enrich the lives of the people for whom we create by providing
objects for the individual, not for the masses. If we are doing it right it
will be a personalized perfect fit, not for everyone, but for you.
I've been designing and building for some 35 years and I
never tire of it. Each new project is like setting off on a voyage with that
same thrill of anticipation. You have a notion of where you will end up, but
what routes will you take, who will you meet and what will you learn along the
way?
Inspiration springs from many sources; forms and color in
nature, conceptual themes in science and philosophy, maybe a dream....always
from the people I design and build for...and materials, WONDERFUL materials.
Without the materials, we'd be literally empty-handed.
This may seem an odd venue for an essay extolling the virtues of custom
designed, commissioned furniture art. After all, aren't manufactured goods what
we rail against? Well, not exactly. Manufactured MATERIALS can be a wonderful
resource for we independent designer/builder artsy types.
Of course, the tried-and-true standard is wood, but I'm
in awe of the ever increasing array of interesting materials made possible by
advancing technologies, and I spend a good deal of time trying to utilize such
advancements.
Look at a couple examples of what I'm talking about and
I'll shut-up:
I was commissioned to create and award honoring many
years of service from a wood products executive. The result is a sculpture
depicting a stylized representation of two of his life's passions: his sailboat
carved from a material he helped develop.
One of my specialties is personalized cremation urns for
boat lovers. This urn was created for a man who had built boats for
his sons, with laser engraved graphics to memorialize the first of these boats.
It is hand carved from solid Mahogany.
For more information on Randy Weersing's designs, visit his website at:
