Victorian Industrial, Steampunk, Industrial Modern, call it what you will my work utilizes parts from broken down or otherwise useless machinery and reinvents them in unique ways for home or office. Heavily influenced by Art Deco, Art Nouveau and the Industrial Revolution, also known as the Machine Age, I employ various methods and materials in the creation of objects. The challenge of these different mediums and the diversity of processes in their use are what drive my creativity. The common threads are design and craftsmanship.

Good design is eternal. It outlasts fads and trends. Design, the foundation upon which craftsmanship is built, is important to the success of a piece. Gears, cogs and other cast off mechanical parts play an important part in my work. There is an elegance in their style and geometric designs which is still viable and appreciated.

A subconscious theme in my work has emerged, my mother spotted it and dubbed it “Victorian Industrial”. If I have to pick a name for my “style” it is that. Victorian era machinery, furniture and objects are extremely detailed, busy, functional, elegant and finely crafted. The whole object is aesthetically pleasing and yet each part is also fascinating to look at. Graceful, elegant, functional pieces, each individually designed to work with the whole, yet displaying interesting qualities standing alone. It is from these parts, modern day mass produced culture, that I try to fashion unique works, testaments to the ingenuity and engineering of machine designers. Cast off parts used out of context and function, worn out, broken, no longer useful as intended, becoming interesting again, recycled, rejuvenated, reused.

Craftsmanship, the second component of my work, is crucial. Well made objects last. They show care, quality and attention to detail. Poor craftsmanship reflects badly on the builder. Objects crafted with pride display the dedication, the years of practice and devotion by an artisan to his or her particular discipline. To not only make something, but to make it right.

Because I build furniture and light fixtures, functionality is also an important element of some of my pieces. For me most functionality is an exercise in engineering. The challenge of how to make something work from an existing part. How to hide the inner workings. How to put something together and be able to take it apart again to move it. To discover just how fine my tolerances must become. To try to make each piece better engineered than the last. A challenge to myself. A table that must function not just as an art object but also as a table. A lamp that looks beautiful when lit and as well when not. I enjoy people having and using my work. I encourage interaction and careful study of each piece in the hope that the viewer discovers something new, some overlooked detail, each time they see it.

John G. Woodson
January 2017

Woodson
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Manufacture
Beekeeping
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Turnings