quare id faciam?

Wendell Castle

In the issue of Woodshop News I received last week there's a feature article about the work, past and present, of 'art furniture' maker Wendell Castle. I'd never heard of Castle, but that's not to say he isn't well known. He's enjoyed a successful, four-&-a-half-decade career as an artist and university professor in upstate New York. A large old industrial-space-turned-workshop with several employees operates under him to produce his pieces. An extensive portfolio of those pieces, past & present, is on view at his web site – many varied, highly finished items & sets. The works themselves are sufficient statement of the artist's career success, as each one screams extravagance of labor and material expense. I won't describe them further; I encourage readers to check out his site – which richly rewards the eye, at least – and see for themselves: wendellcastle.com.

I thought a sidebar in the Woodshop News article listing 'Wendell Castle's 10 adopted rules of thumb' – a handy collection in the think-outside-the-box, gather-no-dust vein – would be good to pass on to readers here.

1. If you are in love with an idea, you are no judge of its beauty or value.
2. It is difficult to see the whole picture when you are inside the frame.
3. After learning the tricks of the trade, don't think you know the trade.
4. We hear and apprehend what we already know.
5. The dog that stays on the porch will find no bones.
6. Never state a problem to yourself in the same terms it was brought to you.
7. If it's offbeat or surprising, it's probably useful.
8. If you do not expect the unexpected, you will not find it.
9. Don't get too serious.
10. If you hit the bull's-eye every time, the target is too near.
    

posted by paul bowman @ 11:30 PM