Why I Do What I Do

Mirror, Writing Desk & Table by CR Washburn

My passion is working with wood to create functional works of art that not only please the eye but are just as pleasing to the rest of the body. You might call me reactionary but I find the cold institutionalism of the modernist movement and especially the industrial movement does not result in furniture that makes me want to use it. I believe the current belief in the expediency of “one size fits all” and the demand for standardization have been allowed so much control of the design process that today’s furniture is now something to be endured rather than enjoyed.

Misty

I have chosen to work with wood because it allows me to explore the way we interact with the objects in our daily lives and how their shapes, and the orientation of those shapes, will affect our perceptions of them. Our constructed environment has forced the linear, the straight lines and square corners that we live with every day, to have such a dominating influence that it has created a regimented and constrained environment we are so familiar with we don’t even notice its confining and stifling influence. We have become so isolated from the natural world, we are no longer comfortable with the non-linear. By exploring the interaction of curves with other curves and even straight lines, and by orienting those curves in unexpected directions, I strive to break the restraining and confining nature of our mass produced world. My desire is to create objects that not only surprise and delight the senses but are also functional in everyday life.

On the Level with a view of the Gateway to the Other Side

I do recognize the need for standardized furniture, in an office setting or even a family dining room for example, but even this furniture can be comfortable, meet your specific needs, and reflect your personal tastes. There are no laws that say they have to be just like everyone else’s furniture. Every person is unique and has unique needs in the furniture they use. After years of being forced into someone else’s mold in the corporate world, I refuse to create furniture that does the same thing to those who use it. The idea that a short person and a tall person can comfortably use the same chair is ridiculous. Even if two people are physically the same size, but are of different ages, the furniture made to meet their unique physical needs will be different. My only goal is to design and build furniture that meets your needs. I have no desire to force you into the cookie cutter world of what someone else wants. By hand making furniture one piece at a time, I can create an aesthetic that is as unique as you are. By working with wood, I can create furniture that is warm and inviting; a safe haven in a turbulent world.

Got My Eye On You

To learn more about having a custom designed table, desk, chair, or bench made just for you and your unique needs; or if you would like me to create a piece of artwork for you – a drawing, some pyrography, a carving, or a turning of some kind; feel free to contact me. You can give me a call at: (207) 975-9704, or email me at: ric@crwashburn.com. I am looking forward to hearing from you!

Photography of my work by Pearl Washburn

All other photography by CR Washburn