The Woolf Table

One of the great things about collaborating with other artists is that ideas spring up that otherwise wouldn’t have. 

I’m working on part of an installation piece with Stefanie Dykes, a local sculptor and printmaker for a show starting this March.  The focus will be on using printmaking, paper sculpture, and reclaimed wood to create a piece about the power of literature and the womens’ rights movement.  Specifically, we’ve been looking at Virginia Woolf for inspiration.  Having a ‘room of one’s own’ (both metaphorically and physically) is important for many marginalized groups to regain their voice.

I especially like using reclaimed materials in this context.  Things that no longer serve their purpose to the larger society, whether shipping pallets or the energy that fuels misogyny, are ripe to be repurposed for a greater good.

Sketches of the overall table design

Donor pallets

The reason many pallets don't fall apart earlier is because of these spiral nails.  They also make taking them apart difficult; this table is using the wood from 7 pallets and it took 16 hours to pick out and mill down the usable wood.

Removed pallet wood  drying -- usually the wood is very well dry by the time I get it, but this had been out in the snow for a season.

The rough-cut cabriolet table legs of laminated wood.

Some of Stefanie Dykes' book sculptures to be added to the table top.