Interview with Stoel Burrowes
Stoel Burrowes is a fine woodworker, poet, artist and university lecturer. He is greatly admired by his students and colleagues.
Designer Interview
24 April 2012
I hold a degree in History of Art and in Product Design. I worked in the 1980's and 90' building, designing and selling fine hardwood, contemporary, handmade furniture. The practice and long learning of woodwork as a craft deeply influences my concepts and process of art and design. I teach design and drawing in the Department of interior Architecture at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. My creative practice and research in design theory has been demonstrated in writing. presentation, 2d and 3d art work and furniture design. My latest endeavor has been to build memorial paper pyramid pyres.
After working in a 3 - 6 person wood shop and showroom and then in a large University setting I have chosen to maintain a small design/woodworking shop attached to my home. I utilize facilities and expertise of other shops together with my own work to realize my designs.
Design is an optimistic process to bring together a wide variety of information, experience and expectation to create a poem in materials.
Design is the arrest of ideas into experience.
Design is the arrest of ideas into experience.
I want to form matter into experiences of self recognition.
In 1984 I designed an easy chair with leather cushions and exposed solid wood frame that is as comfortable as a recliner. I had built numerous items from 'napkin sketches' but this easy chair was a first in product realization for a company.
Fine wood joinery is my favorite media/platform.
When I am pushing the grass decapitator, when the tea is hot and the air outside my window is sold, when the car's cruise control is humming, when I am walking the dog, when materials are taking their place as if without me, when the space between is as important as the objects themselves...
Materials and edges along with 'deep interlock and ambiguity.' (Alexander)
Energized humility. When a design feels complete, the very first thing I want to do the next morning, before pee or coffee, is to look again at that project. More often than not I see something else but it is still a special moment.
Hubris clouded by self doubt with a strong questioning sense of what's next.
Great question. Show me.
A first reaction before or in-spite of advertising, expectation or pre-judgment.
A designers responsibilities include making the world a better, stronger, healthier, clearer, sounder, less obscure, more tolerant, more peaceful, lighter, more discerning, more aware,
We are always struggling to be as good as the best of our ancestors.
North Carolina, USA. Living in the oppressively consumerist, money greedy, militaristic society is negative but the mix of cultures, heritage and curiosity is positive.
Melita coffee filter cone, ceramic hand coffee grinder, scraper, chisel, draw horse
“The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny....'” Isaac Asimov. The same is true of design.
I would like to change the 'golden rule' from "Do unto other as you would have them do to you." to "Give and Go." The footbal play that would have the player/designer pass/give the ball/idea to another player/evaluation. Then the player/designer should move on to open field to be ready to receive the ball/idea back. Thus, the ball/idea is advanced not in a direct or linear stop and start but, rather, by triangulation and finesse/evaluation.
A broad knowledge with a deep practice of quality and craft will allow a design to flourish.
It is most important to fail quickly.
If you find the beginning, you have stopped looking and if you think it ends when your paid then you are not paying attention.
How much will it cost?
Teaching and design have been most natural for me. The jobs that taught me the most: factory work, woodwork and sales take more practice, patience and attention to detail.
I work mostly by myself but I work, always with others to add expertise and knowledge before, during and in the realization of designs.
I am currently working on a paper pyramid that can celebrate, memorialize or spiritualize a moment, an event or a life.
STOEL BURROWES DESIGN
1108 East Franklin street
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA, 27514-3221
burrose@bellsouth.net
1108 East Franklin street
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA, 27514-3221
burrose@bellsouth.net