T:04.B (Side Table)

The ‘Concrete Coffee Table’ is an experimental mix between two different series styles. Aesthetically it borrows from the Factory Nail Salon Series, while conceptually its origin lies within the ‘Hyper-Local HMA’ Concept. 

Series: Mix Between ‘Hyper-Local HMA’, and ‘Factory Nail Salon’

Series Info:

‘Hyper-Local HMA’ Concept:

The ‘Hyper-Local HMA’ (Heavy Material Acquisition) concept was born from ideations on how to achieve heavy, solid, unique objects without committing the near absolute-sin of shipping said heavy items across large distances to the eventual end-user. 

The concept is that the end-user would receive the laminate wood top, the wood connecting materials, and the steel connecting hardware via standard shipping options. Then, in order to complete the fabrication, the end-user would purchase their own relative-identical concrete blocks from their local hardware or building supplies store and ultimately assemble the piece themselves. This would achieve the goal of being a solid, quality piece without having to subject the environment to such a harsh toll via typical air or ground shipping due to excessive weight. 

‘Factory Nail Salon’ Series:

The designs and concepts in the ‘Factory Nail Salon’ series are inspired by and directly related to my original “Lil Tuff Chunk” (2022) object. This object and the others in this series are the beginning of my ongoing exploration into the aesthetic and cultural roots of my blue-collar familial upbringing. 

To be more specific - My father worked as a mechanic at the Ford River Rouge Factory Complex in Detroit Michigan for over 30 years, while my Mother worked as a manicurist in our small basement DIY nail salon. These object concepts are exploring the aesthetic and metaphorical links between those two worlds. In one sense, the worlds could not be farther apart from each other. While in another, they share not only unintentional utilitarian beauty via industrial and pragmatically minded creations, but also socioeconomic similarities surrounding the reality of middle-class financial income obligations.