Project Chaboo is an artist series I am curating based on my chaboo design.  I am recruiting artists to customize my chaboo in their own style.

13" tall, 14" deep, 32" wide

I have illustrators, painters, woodworkers, glass, metal, concrete, laser, felt, carbon fiber, and a recycled skateboard artist.  These artists are very talented in their own right and I am fortunate that they are willing to collaborate with me on this project.  The diversity of the energies they bring to the project will propel it forward as well as enrich my life as a designer.

I cant wait to see the range of customization these talented artists bring to this project.  ShowPDX has been a great show where we can really see the different signature styles of designers.  Id like Project Chaboo to be similar in that respect but in a format which will create a series of work based on the same basic design where their voices can be heard.  Their chabus will be marketed on my website and Id like to have a local show in a gallery as well.  Im really excited about this project as a community building exercise.  I really think it will help everyone by connecting us all together in a web.

Another motivation for this project started from frustrations that were voiced by many local furniture designers that they dont have a venue where they can sell their creations without paying large commission fees and retail markups.  Id like this to be a project that will allow artists to sell their artwork for what they want to charge for it.   I dont plan on charging commission for sales through the site. Commission may be involved if the sales are through a gallery though.  Im working on eliminating that issue, either by contracting a venue through a flat fee or by obtaining a grant that will pay the artists’ commissions.

This project will be a lot of fun and a great exercise in community building and collaboration.  I think its important to think of art/design as something beyond yourself every once in a while to keep our spirits fresh and our creative minds sharp.