Dave began his career in high school working construction jobs during the summer months, and further honed his skills by majoring in a four year Furniture program at Buffalo State College. After completing his degree, he worked various full-time positions in the field and grew from these work experiences. With an … Read More
Dave began his career in high school working construction jobs during the summer months, and further honed his skills by majoring in a four year Furniture program at Buffalo State College. After completing his degree, he worked various full-time positions in the field and grew from these work experiences. With an even greater appreciation for Art and Design, Dave enrolled in the graduate Furniture program at Rhode Island School of Design. While attending RISD, he also taught a class with Furniture designer and maker John Dunnigan.
With an MFA in Furniture Design from RISD, Dave freelanced with furniture maker and RISD instructor Alphonse Mattia constructing one-of-a-kind custom studio furniture. Dave also created in his own furniture studio during this time, and freelanced as an industrial designer for a over-seas manufacturing company.
After relocating from Providence to Atlanta, Dave re-established his furniture studio. He began freelancing with clients such as The High Museum of Art, Michael C. Carlos Museum, Turner Productions, and residential Interior Designers. Dave has also continued to teach college level 2-Dimensional Design, 3-Dimensional Design, and Sculpture in Atlanta.
While pursuing an established career in Furniture and Exhibition Design, Dave added the role as a home owner/ contractor to his repertoire. Within ten years time, he fully remodeled four historic homes in Atlanta’s Druid Hills district. “I really enjoy taking a well-constructed old home and breathing new life into it...Although this process is lengthy and creative design is somewhat limited within historic restrictions...I can still find ways to be creative and the overall functional rewards are tremendous.”
As a result of Dave’s evolving quest for furniture and design, he most recently challenged himself by creating a collection of wooden and bronze sculptures. This current body of work is a series inspired by Nature and Form. “The opportunity to express through form alone is the driving force of my current artistic exploration. I hope the viewer takes the time to experience the form, not just to look at it...passing beyond logic and enter into the realm of spirit.” Read Less
"To create is to explore the imagination, to honor tradition, to discover beauty and harmony, and to look beyond the known. I believe the creative process is continuously creating the creator. What inspired an artist during the early stages of development evolves, changes, and matures over time. Just as the seed g… Read More
"To create is to explore the imagination, to honor tradition, to discover beauty and harmony, and to look beyond the known. I believe the creative process is continuously creating the creator. What inspired an artist during the early stages of development evolves, changes, and matures over time. Just as the seed grows, so does the planter.
Words may attempt to describe the work and thoughts may give rise to reasons, but the artist knows that his or her true creative expression comes from the soul. Either the work speaks to you, or it doesn’t.
My most recent body of work represents a temporal shift from functional to expressive form. The inspiration for these forms came from myth, tools, weapons, signs, and symbols. For many years I have created work that does something or serves some specific purpose. The freedom to express through form alone is what currently excites me the most.
Throughout the creative process, I often feel 'an instinctive sense of expression'. It may occur through bending a curve to draw a line, or carving and reshaping a form until the form feels true.
As I venture down the creative path of discovery, I often look to nature for guidance. As the seasons change, I am reminded of the cycle of our lives. Everything comes full-circle and everything has its opposite: life and death, sun and moon, darkness and lightness. We are creation born, being lead back to the creator.
As T.S. Elliot said, 'We shall not cease exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.'"
-DML Read Less
Dave Lasker
404.376.2902 dmlasker@mac.com
Education
MFA, Rhode Island School of Design
BA, New York State University
Experience
Product Design
Experience researching materials, techniques and marketability for product dist… Read More
Dave Lasker
404.376.2902 dmlasker@mac.com
Education
MFA, Rhode Island School of Design
BA, New York State University
Experience
Product Design
Experience researching materials, techniques and marketability for product distribution; prototyped designs from scaled drawings, models and sketches to be used for overseas manufacturing and/or for personal design development.
Furniture Design
Collaborative experience working with interior designers and residential clients designing and fabricating custom
furniture for both corporate and residential interiors.
Exhibition Display Design
Extensive freelance experience working with Museum exhibition design teams designing and fabricating exhibit displays and installations.
Wood shop Technician / Consultant
Provided consultation for the upstart of new woodworking facilities and technician services for local college. Experience includes planning machinery and dust collection layouts, ordering woodworking tools and machinery, purchasing supplies, and setting up wood shop equipment.
Instructor
Taught several college design courses focusing on introductory design concepts and applications. Topics include furniture , 2D & 3D design composition and sculpture.
Residential Contractor Experience
General Contractor for personal residential remodeling projects. Experience includes: CAD drawing, scaled
model making, subcontracting labor for structural engineering and framing, window and door placement, electrical
and data systems, plumbing and fixture locations, proper HVAC systems, tile and stone installation, hardwood floor
installation, custom trim millwork, etc, etc.
Freelance/Collaborations
2011Urban Design GroupCorporate Furniture
2006 - 2008 High Museum of ArtMuseum Exhibition Design
2004Tory Winn InteriorsResidential Furniture
2003 - 1998Michael C. Carlos MuseumMuseum Exhibition Design
2002 - 2000Signature GalleryGallery & Residential Furniture
2002Red Thunder StudioCorporate Display
2000Margaret Mitchell MuseumExhibition Design
2002 Vern YipResidential Furniture
1999 - 1998Cooper, Carey & AssociatesRestaurant Furniture, Interiors
1999Presnell & AssociatesCorporate Display
1998 - 1996High Museum of ArtExhibition Design Display
1997CNN International Media News Network
1997CNN CenterCorporate Furniture
1997Jewish Heritage MuseumExhibition Display
1997CNN - EspanolMedia News Network
1996CNN - CrossfireMedia News Network
1996CNNSI - Sports IllustratedMedia News Network
Work Experience
Furniture Design
Design and construct Furniture from sketches, drawings and scaled models.
Consult and review CAD drawings with clients for corporate and residential commission projects. Maintain woodworking machinery, develop prototypes, and fixtures for proper assembly, assist in color finish/stain samples.
Malden International Designs
Designer / Freelance Artist
Design picture frames and other small accessories for manufacturing. Generate conceptual prototypes using wood, metal and foam for use in overseas manufacturing production. Draft drawings for
production.
Instructor - Brenau University
Taught several college design courses focusing on introductory design concepts and applications. Topics include furniture , 2D & 3D design composition and sculpture.
Instructor - Georgia Perimeter College
Taught several college design courses focusing on introductory design concepts and applications. Topics include
2D & 3D design composition and sculpture.
Brace Displays
Exhibition Design
Design and construct displays for traveling commercial and in-house retail projects. Experience includes: mold making, vacuum forming, and working with materials such as acrylic, laminate, styrenes, aluminum, among others.
Alphonse Mattia - Furniture Design
Designer/ Craftsman
Create one of a kind Art Furniture from measured drawings, models and sketches. Involved in various
surface applications including veneering, gold leafing, painting and finishing.
Rhode Island School of Design
Assistant Professor/ Shop Technician
Assist in the conceptual design and development of student projects. Demonstrate proper and safe machine usage. Participate in progressive and final critique evaluation of student projects.
Stender Designs
Designer/ Craftsman
Construct one of a kind and limited production furniture and accessories. Assembled furniture for traveling shows. Set up and operated exhibition booths.
New York State University at Buffalo
Assistant Professor/ Shop Technician
Assist in the conceptual design and development of student projects. Demonstrate machine set-up and operation. Evaluate and critique student projects.
Bailey Custom Kitchen Designs
Remodeling
Extensive kitchen remodeling including: cabinet, window and door placement; installation of hardwood, marble, tile and ceramic floors; and the installation of HVAC lines, copper plumbing, appliances, etc.
Dinaire Furniture Design Co.
Prototyping, Lathe & Finishing Dept.
Construct scaled model prototypes for manufacturing, set up and operate multi-spindle turning lathes, and apply finishes such as stains, oils, hot lacquer, color toning, etc.
References furnished upon request. Read Less
