The chaboo photo shoot is this next monday Dec. 8 which means…..

Pieces need to be dropped off this weekend.  I will have the shop open for drop off from noon to 3pm on BOTH Saturday and Sunday. Feel free to come anytime between those times and hang out.   There will be photographers there to take portraits of the artists with their chaboos to feature on the website and for the local show.  This project is about the artists first and foremost!

I cant wait to see what everyone has done to their chaboos!  I will be looking forward to seeing everyone soon.  There will be simple refreshments (FREE BEER!) and snacks.

Let me know if you need to schedule a different time for drop off

shop address:

3035 SE 17th ave Suite E

Portland, OR 97202

Ya ill admit the location is not so posh…. but it fits me ya?

-Ken

In no particular order here are the artists participating so far:

Alisha Wessler - illustration

Lauren Wessler - wood, paper mache

Jennifer Mercede - painting

Chris Haberman - painting

Sohaila Adela - illustration

Kelly Neidig - painting

Nell Warren - painting

Robin Kaplan - illustration

Dave Laubenthal -wood, metal

David Bertman -wood, metal

Kari Merkl - metal

Joel Wakeman - wood

Juno Lachman - glass

Eric Day - wood, metal, fiberglass

Todd Griffith - painting

Joe Mansfield - laser

George Ramos - wood

Mike Halvorson - wood

Paul Sykes - wood

Lindsay Holmes - recycled skateboards

Jess Hirsch - watercolor

APAK - illustration, painting

Erin Albin (appetite) - screenprinting/fabric

Brendan Budge - industrial design

Lisa Kuhnhausen - interior design/fashion

Jason Hernandez - wood

Sarah Bennet - wood, epoxy resin

Karl Ramentol - industrial design

Ken Tomita - wood, bamboo

Amy Ruppel- designer

Maren Jensen- illustration

Sara Huston - furniture design

Orange design.build - salvaged materials

Marshall Ryan - architecture

Ryan Thomson - architecture

Megan Scheminske - painting

Don Jensen - wood

David Butts - kinetic sculpture

Marc Riera - architecture

Ryah Radomski - furniture

John Paananen - interior architecture

Emily Steen - graphic design, environment design

Oluwaseyi (Shay) Sosanya - mechanical engineering

Tom Huang - furniture design

Ben Wood - furniture

Emily Knudsen - interior design

Corbin Keech - architecture

Jim Haas - furniture

My friend Cameron Davis went from leading scorer on the RISD basketball team to superstar illustrator/character developer for the guitar hero video game franchise in the blink of an eye.  Im lucky to have him onboard for Project Chaboo.  I thought all Cameron could do was shoot 3s.  I was wrong… dead wrong.  Handing out the assists now!

I met with a silkscreening expert today to try and figure out how to print illustrations directly onto Chaboos.  Im still working out the process on how that will actually happen and what limitations I will have to place on artists who will not be directly working onto the material.

It will be good to figure this out so we can branch out and do a limited edition line of screenprinted graphics rather than have everything be hand drawn.

The project has gained tremendous momentum the last couple weeks.  Ive convinced a handful of designers who were in ShowPDX2008 to join in on the fun. Unlike the painters/illustrators who are “decorating” a completed chaboo, many of these designers will design/fabricate their own Chaboos from scratch.  Ive encouraged the designers to freely interpret the design as they wish. Id like the project to be an opportunity for artists unique voices to be heard with a minimum of structure.  Their pieces only need to follow the design enough that a series is created.  I am working closely with some of the designers and others will work completely independently.

These designers are highly skilled in specific mediums such as metal, glass, concrete, wood, and felt.  Im excited to see how these different materials can be integrated into Chaboo!

Im looking for more designers for this project.  Send people my way if they would be interested!

In alphabetical order with preliminary chaboo ideas:

Scott Bord- Manual Design Works

formed concrete

David Bertman- David Bertman Designs

edging with metal and some kind of webbing

Eric Day

Matt Deschler- Formed Objects

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Last week artists started coming by my shop to pick up their chaboos.  I had made ten and now I only have 2 left.

Jennifer Mercede, Chris Haberman

Jennifer Mercede and her friend Chris Haberman were the first to pick up and got the best selection.  They often collaborate on large scale murals around town where their styles really compliment each other.  As you can see, their work is amazing!  Jennifer had several ideas for what to do so I gave her two chaboos.  Her work has a youthful exuberance that will add alot of energy to this project.

Jennifer Mercede, Chris Haberman

One concern of mine is that the artists will be hesitant because they are not used to this medium.  Jennifer told me its going to be hard for her to hack into such a finished, beautiful piece.  I hope this hesitation/intimidation to use a finished piece of furniture does not hinder the artists from being able to release their full creativity.  Being able to let go is the critical ingredient for a successful transfer from idea to reality.

Jennifer Mercede