I saw this assignment as an opportunity to explore graphic qualities in wood such as grain direction, pattern and texture, elements that are often overlooked in the rush of final pieces. The size specification of this assignment seemed to lend itself well to a bedside cabinet, an object I had wanted to make for my dad. My aesthetic goal is to create a beautiful form with a classic construction that emphasized the natural graphics of the wood. I paid added attention to grain orientation and pattern-making when I glue up the wood for the carcass, drawer, and doors, as well as orienting details to highlight these elements. The form is a relatively simple one: two drawers and two doors, housed in a dovetail carcass that sits slightly raised off of the ground. The front of the cabinet is curved with the intention to draw the viewer into the natural qualities of the wood. I selected a batch of curly maple for more opportunity to play with these graphic qualities. 
The tiles on the interior of the drawers were cut and shaped by hand.

 

Fall 2014