TO FEEL FURNITURE

The lamp I made that started this whole notion of making furniture back in 1993, was somewhat crude in its engineering, safe in its design, and simplistic in its construction. It was made for a wedding gift for a close friend because I wanted to give him something personal. The furniture I’m making today is still very much personal.

Figura Furniture was organized with the fellowship of another Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design alum, Tom Wargin. We worked endlessly in our makeshift shop in his basement. Our first showing was in October of 1997 for a Gallery Night event with our work remaining on display for the remainder of the month. As we honed our skills, and furthered our experimentation, our pieces were reflecting our sensibilities. Since we were growing as artists, so must our space. Our shop moved in the summer of 1999 to a barn in Menomonee Falls. At that point we acquired metal casting and fabricating equipment so that we could expand our capabilities, and so that Tom could shift his focus to sculpture, while I forged ahead in furniture. But this also enabled me to go where wood couldn’t, allowing for less inhibited designs.

Every time I sketch a piece, there has to be emotion tied to it. In my mind, a piece of furniture is an extension of the user—not so much of the artist. I contrived a motto: “Avoid apathy: create emotion, it’s what you do.” Each piece is meant to do just that. Avoid apathy. Bring the viewer in for a closer look, invite the touch. For it’s with the touch that the greatest emotional interaction occurs. Think of that favorite easy chair. Falling into it at the end of the day is a most fulfilling experience. To arrive at a similar place, my concepts unite uncluttered elegance, distinct and expressive materials, and that human element I just spoke of, presenting an experience to each individual that’s as unique as the piece itself.

I’ve now shown on six Gallery Nights, and four juried art fairs. Any time I show, I invite all to touch the wood, run their hands along the glass edge to sense the curve, or to recline fully into a chair. How else can one appreciate that which is meant to be put to use? “It looks comfortable,” (regarding a chair) some say. “Take it for a ride,” I reply. I would certainly feel that the piece is a failure if no one desires to interact with it in some fashion. Lassoing this desire falls on the design to undermine the norm, disregard a “style” and engineer with tempered frivolity. Materials such as laminated plywood, cast and formed aluminum, exotic woods, lush fabrics, and glass serve these purposes. While I believe my furniture is far from reaching its zenith, the creations that exist today assuredly, but don’t completely, define what I feel a piece of furniture can be.

All my current works are available for viewing at my website, www.figurafurniture.com. For more information on either of these events or my work, I can be contacted at: figurafurn@lycos.com, or 1-262-268-0765.

Commissions are welcome.

Some Furniture care tips:

• Don’t keep wood or upholstered furniture in direct sunlight for long stretches of time. Both wood and fabrics will fade, because there is very little one can do to protect from UV rays.
• Don’t keep wood furniture less than two feet from any heat source. The wood may dry out at an unnatural rate, shrink, and cause joints to open.
• Never spray waxy cleaners directly onto the piece. These can cause a buildup over time and muddle the finish. Better to spray onto a soft cloth, and then wipe the piece down.

Terry Boyle
Figura Furniture
1-262-268-0765