2100 Smallman St. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 | 412.261.7003 | www.contemporarycraft.org
Mike Stofiel
Creating through building, with an eye on sustainability, is a driving force
in my life. Imagery from industrial buildings and nature are sources of inspiration. I am inspired to create objects from salvaged/ reclaimed materials.
My work explores the concept of furniture pieces as spatial interventions.
The forum of furniture is an opportunity to experiment in the use of varied
construction techniques and selective sourcing of materials. My functional
furniture pieces are design experiments that investigate the art of structural tectonic systems. These furniture pieces are dependent on the integration of multiple parts, acknowledging the balance of the tectonic system, art of joinery, and the nature of materials. This is in contrast to traditional joinery and construction of static joinery of material.
The work combines a physical dialog of form and material while
incorporating visual imagery of a manipulated landscape. Implanted in the work is a statement of material loss. The strength of craft lies in its ability to utilize function as a platform on which to present social commentary as part of the designed object. The furniture not only creates space it also makes the viewer aware of the embedded commentary and the user aware of the tenuous physicality expressed in the exposure of the fabrication process. The intertwining of these divergent forces; tectonics, materials and commentary, create a merging of boundaries, an ecotone where there is potential for interactive connectivity; but the balance is precarious.
To see Mike’s resume, click here.
Mike Stofiel
Chair pair: Motte, 2009
salvaged oak, bamboo, steel and hair cotter pins
20” x 18” x 29.5” each
Mike Stofiel
Room Divider/Vertical: Remediation, 2010
salvaged maple, salvaged misc. hardware, salvaged maple, cherry, jute rope, sapling
7” x 29” x 10 ft tall
Mike Stofiel
Side table: Palimpsest, 2010
steel, salvaged oak beams, jute woven rope, bamboo, salvaged masonite, steel cotter pins
29” x 9” x 18”
Mike Stofiel
Wall cabinet and Elements: Time of Two Lights, 2010
salvaged maple, salvaged misc. hardware, tree, bamboo, cork, cherry, jute rope
each piece is roughly 15” x 11” x 4” D
Mike Stofiel
Room Divider/Wall Element: Riparian 2010
salvaged maple, salvaged misc. hardware, misc. woods, test tube, sapling
3” x 60” x 72” H
Mike Stofiel
Table Entry: Scarf, 2009
reclaimed red oak, salvaged steel and cork flooring
64” x 13” x 39”
Mike Stofiel
Wall Shelf/drawer: Colluvium, 2010
salvaged maple, salvaged steel, pinn oak, misc. hardware, bamboo
48” x 19” x 30”