CFDA Newsletter

Program Schedules:

February 13 - Jan Sopoci: "Everybody likes my work; why can't I sell shit?" or "Things they didn't tell you in art school".
Prepare yourself to hear the voice of experience in plain English! Jan is a charter member of the CFDA and a furniture maker for years before the CFDA was invented. He has been there and done that, and he is prepared to share what he has learned.

March 13 - What Have You Been Doing?
Come share what you've been working on and learn what everyone else has been doing. Bring pictures, models, details and questions; it's show and tell!

April 10 - Bridgette Buckley: My Work.
Bridgette lived in Copenhagen prior to returning to Chicago in 2005 and is currently designing for the Holly Hunt Collection as well as creating her own furniture and artwork. She also teaches at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and got involved with the CFDA just prior to the Form Follows Form show. This is a chance to get acquainted with Bridgette and her work.

May 8 - Dolly Spragins: My Work.
Dolly is not exactly a new member, but we know her more from her efforts promoting the Form Follows Form show than from her work. And her piece in that show indicates that she's capable of the unusual. This is a chance to see more.

June 9 - Bruce Horigan: Urban Forest Products. (This is a Saturday Morning!!)
This will be a tour of Bruce's saw mill, dry kiln and lumber shed, an explanation of his business and a wonderful opportunity to spend a Saturday morning in the emerging suburbs!

July 10 - Lisa Elkins: My Work.
Lisa is another nearly new member. She currently teaches at UIC as a day job, and as we all saw at the Form Follows Form show, she is an accomplished designer. Let's see more.

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CFDA Meeting Report:
January 9th

President Chris Brandel called the meeting to order at 6:45pm.

He reported that he will be meeting with Industrial Design Society officers later this evening regarding plans for a jointly sponsored show. He opened up the meeting to further discussion of possible themes and ideas for organization.

This will be the first combination show they have tried. IDSA Members will be more concerned about fostering a creative experience than about selling. Chris suggested consideration of a -'layered approach' to the design and creative process. John Kriegshauser voiced hopes for a broad theme and expected that IDSA members would be more innovative. The possible benefit of setting up teams pairing up one member from each organization was considered. Jan Sopoci put forward the possibility of collaboration based on the area of expertise of the ID partner in each team. Emphasis should be on functional furnishing (home accessories and furniture). The concept might be similar to the Corian show. Chris pushed for emphasis on materials. No venue has been considered as yet.

Further Reports:
Reminder of deadline for registration for the Design Within Reach Show - Jan 12.
Report that Barry Newstat sold a table at the show at Against the Grain

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Minutes of the CFDA Board Meeting
January 17, 2007

Held at Chris Brandel's Condo. In attendance: Barry Newstat, Lisa Elkins, Chris Brandel, Jan Sopoci, Dolly Spragins, Lloyd Natof, John Kriegshauser, Matt Speer.

1. Officer Reports

· Treasurer's Report--Lloyd said that our bills were paid, we had $4200 in the bank and he was working with Jamie Stevens to use the QuickBooks system to reconcile last year's records.

· Membership Report--Barry reported that we had about 78 members but only 40 were current on their dues.

· Chris said he would contact certain high profile but tardy members about their dues. Barry and Tim Cozzens had brainstormed about what attracted people to the CFDA. Topping the list were show opportunities and a chance for camaraderie. They thought that what turned people off to the CFDA were prolonged business meetings and the last minute, disorganized quality of the activities and the shows.

·Newsletter--Everyone was excited about the new look for the newsletter and optimistic about Rob's management.

· Grants--The possibility of Chicago City grants were exciting. We are not sure whether we are the type of corporation that is eligible for them, though individual members might be.

· Website--Everyone agreed that the posting of Form Follows Form images was long overdue.

· Yahoo Group--Chris reported that 20 members had now signed up for the Yahoo group.

2. Shows

· The Against the Grain show--Barry Newstat sold a piece from the show. He was very impressed with the energy and commitment of the gallery owner, who is open to working with the CFDA. Everyone agreed that the current gallery is too small, but they are moving to a new space, and we should stay in touch.

·Design Within Reach--Pradeep's contact is no longer at their store, but the new person is considering a CFDA show. Lisa volunteered as a contact person because she lives nearby.

·IDSA Joint Show Proposal--Chris and Dolly met with the IDSA leadership last Tuesday.

·They reported that the IDSA people were eager for a furniture show, which they thought would be very appealing to their membership.

· However they looked to the CFDA for leadership on how to organize a show.

· We agreed that we needed to have things worked out by June at the latest if we were to have a November show, though maybe next year would be a more realistic time.

·Lisa said she knew someone inside the Cultural Center, and knew about a big gallery space in Pilsen as well.

·John suggested Elmhurst or one of the other art centers around town as a venue.

·The theme of "creative process" was suggested as something the members of both groups shared.

3. Meeting Changes

·We decided to begin the monthly meetings with a social time from 6:00-6:45, move to a more structured business meeting from 6:45-7:15 with a program to follow punctually at 7:15. The program would end around 8:15 or 8:30 when more socializing could go on.

· A consensus developed in favor of a more open approach to meetings and programs including visits to factories such as Finkl Steel and Lyon and Healy harps or the IIT architecture college.

• Next Board Meeting: Wednesday, April 18, 2007

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Meeting Program:

Lloyd Natof- Lloyd spoke on his experience with an Open House at his studio held on a weekend this fall. He has done this before in 1999 and in 2002. In talking about the way he organized this he stated that he took 3-4 months off during which he designed and built several pieces. By hiring two semiskilled assistants, and working 12 hour days himself they were able to complete several large pieces (tables, credenza, beds, cabinets), and some mirrors and nightstands. The pieces were displayed on low platforms, with special lighting and fabric covering the wall behind, and small pedestals for signage. His pieces emphasized simple design and fine finishing on exotic veneers.

The recent Open House brought about 200 visitors. Preparations including food, publicity, mailings, in addition to shop help and space costs were about 30 K. Sales to date amount to about 12 K and 8 K in commissions. He expects to sell the rest over the next two years.

In the discussion which followed there were questions on the purpose of an open house. Is it to promote orders, to sell floor pieces, for the fun of it, for family and friends? Lloyd agreed it was all of the above. He answered some questions on the veneering, showing pictures of stages in the process of veneering a table top. He does not exhibit his work in galleries. In response to questions on his education and experience he reported he is largely self taught been at the University of Chicago for two years and then studied music (jazz flute) at DePaul in 86-88. From there he moved into furniture making - especially using veneers.

The pictures following are from the Open House.

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Member Profile:
Dave Waycie writes on Creative Constipation

I started out as a woodworking hobbyist. I made furniture for myself and occasionally family and friends. I'd spend hours in the shop learning techniques; or with a sketch pad doodling drawings. It was very, very satisfying. As I remember back, it occurs to me that I would design anything and build anything, regardless of the skills or tools required. I drew the line at turned parts, since I didn't have a lathe, but just about anything else was fair game. While most of what I designed and built was pretty ordinary, I occasionally came up with an innovative design or construction technique.

In 1996, I decided to become a full time woodworker/furniture designer/furniture builder. I quickly determined that, while I still wanted to do the occasional "kick-ass" piece of furniture, I'd be building a lot of veneered plywood cabinetry (entertainment centers, bookcases, kitchens) to earn a living. I discovered that CAD would help a lot in these projects, and invested in AutoCAD LT to help with the cause. The story of learning CAD is another topic, but we'll move on. AutoCAD was a godsend. I could design the cabinetry, reduce errors, and improve my productivity. I could develop cut lists, be assured that I wouldn't forget to allow for the "tenon" on a fixed shelf, calculate door and drawer sizes, handle fit problems - in short, I was more productive. And, I always knew I could build what I designed.

A couple of years ago, I noticed a disturbing trend. I was beginning to turn down jobs that were just a little "out of the box." What I mean is, if a project involved a new technique or if I wasn't sure I could build it, or, even, if I didn't know how to draw it in AutoCAD, I would defer it, or decline it, or simply not respond and let it "age." I had contracted Creative Constipation.

I visited with a potential client a few years ago to design and build an entertainment unit centered on a plasma TV. I had what I considered a great concept: an entertainment wall with a very open plan - vertical members with shelves, bookcases and equipment bays suspended between. The design would be flexible in that units could be moved around as modules, and very open. Not at all like the usual "wall of wood" entertainment centers. I drew a quick sketch and the client was interested. When I got back to my office, I found I just couldn't make an AutoCAD drawing that communicated the message. I became obsessed with finding a way to get my CAD program to illustrate what I saw, but was unable to do it. The client disappeared. A couple of years later, I built the unit for my own home. I did use AutoCAD, but only to help with dimensional calculations. The drawing in my mind was sufficient for everything else. At that point, I figured out that the rough sketch (and my enthusiasm) would probably have been sufficient for the client as well.

The Creative Constipation got worse. I found myself deferring jobs that involved new techniques, new materials, and, worst of all, new ideas. Was it because I was obsessed with making a living? Maybe, but I doubt it. It was fear of failure right out in front. If we can't fail, we can't create.

In a way I hope I'm the only one who has suffered from Creative Constipation. On the other hand, it would be nice to know I'm not alone. If I'm not alone, what do we do about Creative Constipation? One possibility is to do what Lloyd Natoff did - take six months off and build whatever you want. That's not easy to do, but is probably the best solution. Another is to participate in shows or exhibits that give you the opportunity to stretch. CFDA shows can do that. However, I'm always disappointed to see the number of "old" pieces at CFDA shows - we're not stretching. By the way, I'm an offender, too - I've shown the leftovers at CFDA shows as well.

Recently, I decided to cut back the business a little, pick and choose jobs, and build some pieces for my daughters. Voila! I find I'm thinking a little more creatively already. I've started sketching ideas in my head again, without so much concern over time and tools required. Maybe I wasn't cut out to do furniture as a business - maybe I should have kept it an avocation all along.