Furnishing Utopia Shaker Reinterpreted
“Beauty Rests on Utility”
The Shakers are a hugely important and
uniquely American phenomenon. Considered to be the most successful utopian community. They were active in the North East, South and Midwestern parts of the United States for about 200 years, with their most productive period in the late 1800’s at an estimated population of 6000. While there are now only three practicing Shakers their influence has greatly impacted American life and their designs and inventions have influenced modernist and contemporary designers all over the world.
But it is rare that designers
have the opportunity to experience these objects in person and in their original context.
The Shakers were considered innovators and
early adopters of new technology, inventing and improving things such as the table saw, the flat broom, the turbine water wheel, and the washing machine. They were early pioneers in modern manufacturing, producing chairs, brooms, commercial seeds, medicines, baskets and clothing that were sold to the outside ‘world’.
They also produced countless items for the daily needs of their own closed community. All matters deserved the same level of care and attention in their design and production, from a candle holder to a dwelling house.
The Shakers believed in open source technology,
sharing innovations through their own internal newspaper, “The Shaker� allowing for the larger community to adapt and improve ideas across their network of communities. They took a sustainable approach to using materials believing in making only what was necessary and useful, utilizing local resources and taking a holistic approach to work and life. These are just a few of the components that were critical to their beliefs and practices, many of which are seeing a revival or a new found relevance in contemporary society, from concerns of environmental sustainability, the advent of digital fabrication, to the open source movement in technology.
The Shakers produced
exceptionally refined, highly functional products for daily life, from furniture, housewares, tools, interiors and architecture. They believed in creating only what was useful and necessary, creating objects that are simple unadorned and elegant. Their interiors were open and bright and the integrated peg rail allowed everything to be hung from the wall.
Project Goal As designers, we are interested in how the Shakers would approach the development of designed objects today, integrating their aesthetics, design philosophy and innovation with modern technology. To do this we are bringing together a group of talented American and International designers to explore, analyze and reinterpret traditional Shaker objects. Producing a collection of designs that translate the ingenuity and aesthetics of Shaker objects into modern forms relevant to contemporary life.
Workshop The group of designers will spend one week at the Hancock Shaker Village in the Scenic Berkshires in Massachusetts, to explore the collection in the context of the historical village along with trips to other nearby Shaker sights including the Shaker Museum and Library, the largest collection of Shaker objects and tools.
Resources The participating designers will have access to historic and modern workspaces to draw and develop their ideas and a workshop where they can prototype their design. This will give the designers the opportunity to work together, discuss their designs and develop a cohesive body of work. The participants will have an opportunity to refine their designs after the workshop before having them produced by themselves or by professional craftsmen.
Participating designers Studio Gorm: Oregon US, Korea (Organizer) / Studio Tolvanen: US, Finland / Norm Architects: Denmark / Charlie Schuck: Seattle US / Gabriel Tan: Singapore / Christopher Specce: Providence US / Jonah Takagi: Washington DC US / Todd Bracher: NYC US / L&G studio: NYC US / Darin Montgomery: Seattle US
Furnishing Utopia Shaker Reinterpreted
The results of the workshop will be presented
at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York in the Spring of 2017. The exhibition will travel to the Bellevue Art Museum in Bellevue WA.
Projected Timeline May 2015 Confirmation of Designers: Invited designers will give their confirmation to the participation. Workshop Date Decision: Decision will be made on the time period that works best for all designers. Sponsors for the workshop and exhibition in NYC. Preparation Commences: Organizational work begins, securing venue, media partners, as well as procuring all necessary materials, equipment and crew necessary for execution of workshop. Jun 2015 Travel Logistics: Arranging of transportation and accommodation for all parties to Hancock shaker village. Website and Social Media: Creation of website and social media platform, announcing of media partner, participating designers and sponsors. 4 Days in the week of Aug 31 ~ Sep 4 2015 Arrival of Organizers: Organizers will arrive prior to the commencement to setup. Arrival of Designers: Designers arrive and are welcomed and briefed. Workshop Begins: Visit to Shaker Museum, Archive in Mt. Lebanon, designers begin work in the woodshop. Design Evaluation: At the second half of the workshop, designs and prototypes/mockups will be cross-evaluated and refined Wrap up and Debrief: At the end of the workshop each designers will present their concepts and all drawings, prototypes and mock ups will be collected and documented Oct 2015 Selection: Selected designs will then be handed over to product developer for development. Dec 2015 Review of first prototypes: First round of prototypes are to be reviewed by designers Mar 2016 Review of second prototypes: Second round of prototypes are to be reviewed by designers Apr 2016 Photo shooting and Press: Photo shoots of the prototypes will be done with press releases issued, video of workshop will also be uploaded online to generate interest. Shipping of the prototype to the NYC. May 2016 Exhibition Launch: Prototypes will be launched during ICFF / New York Design Week Aug 2017 Travelling Exhibition at the Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue Washington
Tumblr page. http://furnishingutopia.tumblr.com/ Please check out the video. https://vimeo.com/122749405 Password: shaker