http://catmerrick.com Cat Merrick Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:01:27 +0000 http://catmerrick.com en http://catmerrick.com/the-guyana-project http://catmerrick.com/following/catmerrick.com/the-guyana-project Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:01:27 +0000 Cat Merrick 3004699 <img src="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/3004699/BEE-LAMP-guy-logo.jpg" width="670" height="424" width_o="670" height_o="424" src_o="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/3004699/BEE-LAMP-guy-logo_o.jpg" data-mid="15312544" border="0" align="left"/> Rainforest vines are rapidly renewable and need trees to survive, so finding a use for the vines gives local indigenous people both an income and an incentive to maintain the forest. The Guyana Project is a line of sustainable furniture designed by volunteers and created out of non-timber forest products at the Liana Cane Factory in Plaisance, Guyana. <img src="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/3004699/utf.jpg" width="670" height="214" width_o="670" height_o="214" src_o="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/3004699/utf_o.jpg" data-mid="15316032" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/3004699/48.jpg" width="670" height="124" width_o="670" height_o="124" src_o="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/3004699/48_o.jpg" data-mid="15315455" border="0" align="left"/> The Wai Wai weavers are a remote Amazonian indigenous group, accessible only by prop plane. They have a complex graphic language in which symbols stand in for objects, arranged with no spacial relationship to one another. Aio and I combined several of these graphics to create an abstracted night scene on an akari style table lamp. <img src="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/3004699/55.jpg" width="670" height="320" width_o="670" height_o="320" src_o="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/3004699/55_o.jpg" data-mid="15316039" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/3004699/50.jpg" width="670" height="499" width_o="670" height_o="499" src_o="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/3004699/50_o.jpg" data-mid="15315775" border="0" align="left"/> The members of the Guyana Project with Bharrat Jagdeo, then President of Guyana, right before he presented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. <img src="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/3004699/guy-proj.jpg" width="670" height="218" width_o="670" height_o="218" src_o="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/3004699/guy-proj_o.jpg" data-mid="15314690" border="0" align="left"/> Rainforest vines are rapidly renewable and need trees to survive, so finding a use for the vines gives local indigenous people both an income and an incentive to... http://catmerrick.com/tire-project http://catmerrick.com/following/catmerrick.com/tire-project Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:10:27 +0000 Cat Merrick 2738949 SERRV, a global fair trade organization, wanted ornately patterned “Peruvian looking” ceramics. This seemed impossible for an artisan group that could not glaze or make molds. Most of the slums surrounding Lima have dirt roads, criss-crossed with tire tracks. After some time in the museums, I realized that the tracks looked remarkably like Pre-Columbian patterning. <img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2738949/tracks-and-slums.jpg" width="670" height="354" width_o="670" height_o="354" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2738949/tracks-and-slums_o.jpg" data-mid="14762641" border="0" align="left"/> So I went to a local llanteria... <img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2738949/llantas.jpg" width="670" height="365" width_o="670" height_o="365" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2738949/llantas_o.jpg" data-mid="14762644" border="0" align="left"/> ...nailed some bike tires to some wooden boards... <img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2738949/IMG_3606.JPG" width="670" height="502" width_o="2048" height_o="1536" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2738949/IMG_3606_o.JPG" data-mid="13948874" border="0" align="left"/> ...asked Raul Casahuaman to hand-turn some bowls... <img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2738949/turned.jpg" width="670" height="443" width_o="670" height_o="443" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2738949/turned_o.jpg" data-mid="14762639" border="0" align="left"/> ...and use the tires as stamps to make a print. <img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2738949/IMG_3699.jpg" width="670" height="761" width_o="1800" height_o="2045" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2738949/IMG_3699_o.jpg" data-mid="13948788" border="0" align="left"/> Raul experimented until he found a way to stamp the bowls without distorting them. <img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2738949/IMG_37d89.JPG" width="670" height="502" width_o="2048" height_o="1536" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2738949/IMG_37d89_o.JPG" data-mid="13948884" border="0" align="left"/> The result gave SERRV the patterns they wanted and managed to be honest to both past and present Peru. <img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2738949/IMG_3725-crop.jpg" width="670" height="387" width_o="670" height_o="387" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2738949/IMG_3725-crop_o.jpg" data-mid="14352815" border="0" align="left"/> SERRV, a global fair trade organization, wanted ornately patterned “Peruvian looking” ceramics. This seemed impossible for an artisan group that could not glaze... http://catmerrick.com/press-bio-contact http://catmerrick.com/following/catmerrick.com/press-bio-contact Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:10:17 +0000 Cat Merrick 2777802 Cat Merrick Studio 252 Java Street, suite 311 Brooklyn NY 11222 info@catmerrick.com + 917-415-1283 Cat studied fine art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, furniture design at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen and received a masters in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute. Cat's work has been featured in Dwell Magazine, Country Living, Craft, Fast Company, LA Times, Core77, Design Sponge, Inhabitat, Moco Loco, Design Milk, Apartment Therapy, Abitare, Tree Hugger, the Trend Bible and 1001 Ideas for Creative Reuse. Cat has designed for Riedel/Nachtmann, David Weeks Studio, West Elm, Macy's, Martha Stewart, 7B shoes and SERRV International and been involved in exhibitions with Herman Miller, BOFFO, Model Citizens and The Guyana Project at venues including the ICFF, Ambiente, BKLYN Designs, CODE 10 in Copenhagen and the Chelsea Museum. She is a current resident at the Museum of Arts and Design. If you google her name, you might wind up here. Cat Merrick Studio 252 Java Street, suite 311 Brooklyn NY 11222 info@catmerrick.com + 917-415-1283 Cat studied fine art at the School of the Art Institute of... http://catmerrick.com/shadow-chair http://catmerrick.com/following/catmerrick.com/shadow-chair Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:10:16 +0000 Cat Merrick 2772739 A lighting experiment. <img src="http://payload23.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2772739/before retouched chair.jpg" width="670" height="476" width_o="2048" height_o="1457" src_o="http://payload23.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2772739/before retouched chair_o.jpg" data-mid="14068749" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload23.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2772739/retouched chair with saw.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="2048" height_o="1365" src_o="http://payload23.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2772739/retouched chair with saw_o.jpg" data-mid="14068738" border="0" align="left"/> A lighting experiment. http://catmerrick.com/incan-armor http://catmerrick.com/following/catmerrick.com/incan-armor Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:10:15 +0000 Cat Merrick 2773489 A jewelry line designed for silversmiths in Lima and Cuzco, Peru. Now available through SERRV. <img src="http://payload23.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2773489/3-triangle-2.jpg" width="670" height="480" width_o="941" height_o="675" src_o="http://payload23.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2773489/3-triangle-2_o.jpg" data-mid="14076467" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload23.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2773489/RINGS.jpg" width="670" height="168" width_o="670" height_o="168" src_o="http://payload23.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2773489/RINGS_o.jpg" data-mid="14791583" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload23.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2773489/double-chain-body-shot-tyu.jpg" width="670" height="356" width_o="670" height_o="356" src_o="http://payload23.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2773489/double-chain-body-shot-tyu_o.jpg" data-mid="14795374" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload23.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2773489/THREE-NECKLACES_3.jpg" width="670" height="225" width_o="670" height_o="225" src_o="http://payload23.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2773489/THREE-NECKLACES_3_o.jpg" data-mid="14798407" border="0" align="left"/> A jewelry line designed for silversmiths in Lima and Cuzco, Peru. Now available through SERRV. http://catmerrick.com/shelled-porcelain http://catmerrick.com/following/catmerrick.com/shelled-porcelain Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:52:01 +0000 Cat Merrick 2750509 <img src="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/Breaking-parrot-gif-1-second.gif" width="350" height="538" width_o="350" height_o="538" src_o="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/Breaking-parrot-gif-1-second_o.gif" data-mid="14832758" border="0" align="left"/> Cast from the hollow inside of a porcelain figurine. Each is a cast of the inside of the previous figure. <img src="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/porcelain-birds-3.jpg" width="670" height="469" width_o="2048" height_o="1435" src_o="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/porcelain-birds-3_o.jpg" data-mid="13958283" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/Breaking-stop-motion-lamb-14-gif-1-second.gif" width="400" height="544" width_o="400" height_o="544" src_o="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/Breaking-stop-motion-lamb-14-gif-1-second_o.gif" data-mid="14832818" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/EHRhda_61.jpg" width="670" height="541" width_o="670" height_o="541" src_o="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/EHRhda_61_o.jpg" data-mid="14837241" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/donkey-stop-motion-26-original-500.gif" width="500" height="378" width_o="500" height_o="378" src_o="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/donkey-stop-motion-26-original-500_o.gif" data-mid="14832060" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/donkeys-3djhgstfhtdhz_68.jpg" width="670" height="595" width_o="670" height_o="595" src_o="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/donkeys-3djhgstfhtdhz_68_o.jpg" data-mid="14842679" border="0" align="left"/> Slip-cast porcelain is hollow, so the negative space inside of any figurine is a blurry version of what is seen on the outside. By casting this negative space, the designer is removed from the process, and kitsch becomes a post-modern abstraction. By continuing the process of casting the negative space inside each figure, they are abstracted down to nothing. <img src="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/DONK2.jpg" width="670" height="215" width_o="670" height_o="215" src_o="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/DONK2_o.jpg" data-mid="14831490" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/parrot-broken-hammer.jpg" width="670" height="503" width_o="670" height_o="503" src_o="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2750509/parrot-broken-hammer_o.jpg" data-mid="14812058" border="0" align="left"/> Cast from the hollow inside of a porcelain figurine. Each is a cast of the inside of the previous figure. Slip-cast porcelain is... http://catmerrick.com/existential-hourglass http://catmerrick.com/following/catmerrick.com/existential-hourglass Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:51:54 +0000 Cat Merrick 2749229 Disguises how much time has passed or how much time is left. <img src="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2749229/existential-hourglasses-5.jpg" width="400" height="518" width_o="400" height_o="518" src_o="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2749229/existential-hourglasses-5_o.jpg" data-mid="14764315" border="0" align="left"/> Disguises how much time has passed or how much time is left. http://catmerrick.com/empathy-for-las-vegas http://catmerrick.com/following/catmerrick.com/empathy-for-las-vegas Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:49:19 +0000 Cat Merrick 2739025 <img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739025/neon-array-no-overlap-web.jpg" width="670" height="326" width_o="2048" height_o="999" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739025/neon-array-no-overlap-web_o.jpg" data-mid="13889607" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739025/neon--2-sticks-no-overlap-670.jpg" width="670" height="670" width_o="670" height_o="670" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739025/neon--2-sticks-no-overlap-670_o.jpg" data-mid="14802697" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739025/oblique-neon-6.jpg" width="670" height="670" width_o="2048" height_o="2048" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739025/oblique-neon-6_o.jpg" data-mid="13889695" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739025/neon-array-4-long-less-white.jpg" width="670" height="146" width_o="670" height_o="146" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739025/neon-array-4-long-less-white_o.jpg" data-mid="14793717" border="0" align="left"/> In a city supposedly without culture, neon bending is the only local craft. These candlesticks were handmade by neon benders out of borosilicate glass, inspired by the Neon Boneyard in my hometown. This project was originally designed for an ICFF booth sponsored by Herman Miller, and is currently on display at the Museum of Arts and Design in Manhattan. <img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739025/neon-array-6-long.jpg" width="670" height="221" width_o="670" height_o="221" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739025/neon-array-6-long_o.jpg" data-mid="14793298" border="0" align="left"/> In a city supposedly without culture, neon bending is the only local craft. These candlesticks were handmade by neon benders out of borosilicate glass,... http://catmerrick.com/quartz http://catmerrick.com/following/catmerrick.com/quartz Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:07:18 +0000 Cat Merrick 2748763 A line of crystal for Riedel/Nachtmann. <img src="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2748763/quartz-group-MED_3.jpg" width="670" height="460" width_o="670" height_o="460" src_o="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2748763/quartz-group-MED_3_o.jpg" data-mid="14759190" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2748763/quartz-bowl-cutout-8.jpg" width="670" height="450" width_o="670" height_o="450" src_o="http://payload22.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2748763/quartz-bowl-cutout-8_o.jpg" data-mid="15057525" border="0" align="left"/> A line of crystal for Riedel/Nachtmann. http://catmerrick.com/drip-plate http://catmerrick.com/following/catmerrick.com/drip-plate Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:03:28 +0000 Cat Merrick 2739200 Sandblasted porcelain tableware. <img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739200/Drip-plate-cutout-two-web.jpg" width="670" height="382" width_o="2048" height_o="1170" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739200/Drip-plate-cutout-two-web_o.jpg" data-mid="13890879" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739200/porcelain-plate.jpg" width="670" height="481" width_o="670" height_o="481" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739200/porcelain-plate_o.jpg" data-mid="14833256" border="0" align="left"/> <img src="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739200/drip-plate-for-web.jpg" width="670" height="670" width_o="2048" height_o="2048" src_o="http://payload21.cargocollective.com/1/6/198131/2739200/drip-plate-for-web_o.jpg" data-mid="13890855" border="0" align="left"/> Sandblasted porcelain tableware.