Giant Concrete Bowl, Charcoal & Ash

Chris has recently shifted from making beautiful, perfect objects to making beautiful, imperfect objects. He's discovered that the character and uniqueness of each piece is a direct result of its flaws. Listening to the material (as well as the occasional happy accident) results in new techniques that constantly lead his work into a new direction. All pieces are made in small batches, and in limited quantities. Every piece is naturally unique. Each concrete mix is tailored to the size and form of the item, and leaves an imprint of the process in the casting. Bubbles, flow marks, mold lines, fingerprints, material segregation, and machine marks are all embedded into the design and fabrication of every piece. Chris may have dedicated processes, but he is not an assembly line striving for uniformity. Chips and cracks, along with other imperfections, are embraced and celebrated. Concrete can be a very brutal material, or it can be sensual and tactile, screaming to be touched. The fluid mix might separate, the aggregate might sink or float. It slowly becomes solid, locking this material segregation forever. Texture is dictated by the mold surfaces, but can be manipulated later by sculpting and polishing. Chris loves playing with these dynamic qualities. He loves taking everyday forms, manipulating their scale and density, in turn casting not just furniture and home decor, but artifacts that could last centuries.