David Franklin

Process Posts

Kohler launches “Pearlized” sink, inspired by David Franklin’s MakerSpace residency

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Kohler is launching a new product finish called “Pearlized” inspired by our work at the factory during my MakerSpace residency in the Kohler pottery in Wisconsin. This couldn’t have been done without the help and collaboration with out team at Kohler and without the help of my wife Joanne and John Bueter who spent a lot of time prepping fish for the PVD chamber to achieve the finish.

Take a look at the article from Wallpaper Magazine

https://www.wallpaper.com/design-interiors/interior-design/kohler-pearlized-finish

Learn More about David’s Experience at Kohler’s MakerSpace here.

Working at Kohler’s MakerSpace

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Kohler Co Made this video that perfectly captures something about my most recent experience as the first resident of their invitation only MakerSpace residency.

During this 6 month residency at Kohler Factory’s MakerSpace we made both the Shedd Aquarium’s Once and Forever Lake Michigan Sculpture as well as a sculpture that has been shown at the 2024 Salone Del Mobile in Milan, Italy.

It was an incredible experience to share with my wife Joanne, my kids and our Sheboygan/Kohler Wisconsin family. With the Kohler team of associates behind you anything is possible.

Scuola di Pesci at the Salone del Mobile 2024 Milan, Italy
Scuola di Pesci at the Salone del Mobile 2024 Milan, Italy. Made possible by Kohler Co
Scuola di Pesci detail. Photos courtesy of Kohler Co
Once and Forever Lake Michigan at the Shedd Aquarium, Chicago
Some of the Kohler Associates that made these projects possible gathered at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

“Raven’s Escape” with Preston Singletary at Microsoft

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"Raven's Escape" with Preston Singletary at the new Microsoft Campus in Redmond WA.

Creating “Raven’s Escape” for Microsoft’s new campus

It has been a great honor to work with Preston Singletary to make “Raven’s Escape” for the new Microsoft Campus in Redmond, Washington. Preston is a great craftsmen, collaborator and friend. His work explores native modernism, and native futurism through his studio glasswork. He explores these themes with his native funk rock and jazz fusion band KHU.ÉEX’.

The Lumiere Group approached Preston to create an outdoor installation for the new Microsoft campus. This part of the campus is designed by Berger Associates and is constructed by Skanska.

Preston and I discussed the idea of a modernist series of totems for the campus. Themes of technology, light and ideas taking flight came to mind. Preston felt that Raven filled with light would be the perfect subject for the idea.

Inspiration for “Raven’s Escape”

3 Terns Totem in Mink Bay Alaska
3 Terns Totem in Alaska

This totem carved many years ago for a client in Alaska became the basis for the concept. Groups of Ravens in flight above the forest thread pathways. We thought the Ravens could be modular and repeatable. They are able to be manipulated to give each Raven a unique pose. Together we designed a series of three poles, with each post having a different configuration of Ravens. The posts vary in height from 20 to 30 feet tall. The Ravens are lit from within, and are lined with cobalt blue Bullseye sheet glass.

Raven's Escape basic configuration
Raven’s Escape basic configuration

Designing the modern Raven

In order build the Ravens I drew upon my airplane mechanic school airframe experience. I designed the interior of the birds to be like an airplane’s fuselage complete with ribs and bulkheads. Eleanor Reynolds, at RBHU engineers, helps make sure they are built to last.

Designing Ravens

Modeling Raven

A basic design led to making some chipboard laser cut parts. With these I built a scale model complete with lights.

Raven Model
Chipboard Model
Raven Model
model with lighting test
Raven model with lighting

Fabrication Begins

The metalwork is all done at Specialty Metals. They have been a great partner on public art projects. The digital modeling was completed by Alec Burney at Neon Fab Studios. Most of he machines and programs used to cut the metal for the project run on Microsoft Windows technology.

The poles that the birds will be mounted on are fabricated and installed well before the Ravens. They needed to be integrated into the groundwork on site.

Once fabricated, Specialty Metals delivers the poles to the jobsite. A crow decided to land on the pole and perform an inspection.

Crow inspecting poles
Crow inspects pole. Photo by Robert Bogue at the Luminere Group.
Cutting the Raven Parts
Raven Parts
Installing the posts at Microsoft.

Assembling Raven

Each Raven’s bodies are a welded assembly. The head and wings are bolted on for access to the interior lights and cleaning. The heads are designed to be rotated to different angles providing each raven with a unique pose. The Raven’s wings are bent to a variety of angles to give the look of natural flight.

Raven Heads
Raven heads photo by Specialty Metals
Raven assembled
The first Raven gets assembled
Matt Gilman welder extraordinaire who assembled the Ravens for Specialty Metals

Matt Gilman of Specialty metals is a true metal artisan. He has worked on several projects for myself and Preston and did a great job of welding and managing all the parts. This task is complex due to slight variations in the different birds. Ryan Gleason, Mike Gribble, and Mason Eddy helped make the project successful on the fabrication end at Specialty Metals.

Sean Albert from Preston Singletary's Studio installing glass
Sean Albert from Preston Singletary’s Studio installing glass

Sean Albert from Preston’s studio, a great glass artist in his own right, is alway there to help me. We worked together for the final assembly and glass installation. Lance at Glass Strategies laminated and prepared the glass for water jet cutting at Specialty Metals.

Installing “Raven’s Escape” at the Microsoft Campus

Installation day had finally come to install “Raven’s Escape.” Thanks to the planning and support from Skanska, the Lumiere Group and Microsoft the installation went almost without a hitch. As we waited for a crane to arrive, our crow friend stopped by to witness the scene.

Crow visits again for installation day
Crow visits again for installation day
Preston doing the final touches before the ravens are installed
Preston makes the final touches just before the Ravens get installed
Sean Albert and Preston Singletary ready the Ravens for flight

Installation complete

This pole with the singular Raven on top stands over 30' tall
This pole with the singular Raven on top stands over 30′ tall
Raven's Escape at the new Microsoft Campus
Raven’s Escape at the new Microsoft Campus
Raven's Escape at Microsoft in Redmond Washington
Raven’s Escape at Microsoft in Redmond Washington
The installation at night, photo by Lumiere Group
Ravens at night photo by the Lumiere Group
Ravens at night photo by the Lumiere Group

The installation was a big success thanks to everyone who supported and worked on the project. It is exciting to be a part of Microsoft’s new campus. Preston and I had a great experience working with all of our partners: Microsoft, RBHU, Neon Fab Studios, Skanska, Berger Partnership, Lumiere Group, Specialty Metals, Glass Strategies, Sean Albert and Matt Gilman. Thanks to our wives Joanne Franklin and Åsa Sandlund, and our families, for all their support in exploring what’s possible with our hands and imaginations.

You can learn more about our collaborative work here and here.

David Franklin

Reflective Ripple Balconies

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New architectural art installation at Spectra Apartments Redmond, Washington

Reflective Ripple Balconies at Spectra Apartments

Inspiration

  • The inspiration for this project started with a scrap of aluminum from the model for the “Rippling Wall” , the award winning facade of Fire Station 21 In Portland Oregon. This project was the first project I worked on with architect, and professor of architecture at Portland State University, Aaron Whelton.
View of Portland Oregon's Fire Station 21from the Madison Street pier
View of Portland Oregon’s Fire and Rescue Station 21 from the Madison Street pier

The Inspiration

Model for the facade of fire station 21

This is the working model for the facade of the Fire Station 21. Made by Kurt Nordquist at Davinci’s Workshop, my fabricator at the time. More about this project can be found here.

Leftover scrap from making the model for Fire Station 21 in Portland Oregon

This is the leftover scrap of aluminum from building the preliminary model for the Fire Station.

Something about the graphic nature of this scrap seemed to have some potential. Several years later it resurfaced in my mind when Nine Dot Arts brought me this opportunity.

I was contacted by Nine Dot Art Consulting about designing art balconies for a new apartment complex. After attempting a few different approaches this piece of metal came to mind.

With Denise Joseph of Nine Dot Arts, we worked with Brad Machat and Peter van Overbeek of Quarterra. Together we designed the look of the balconies. They were to be fabricated by Advanced Ironworks in Redmond, Washington.

It would take a few versions before settling on the final medium and finish.

Photoshop rendering of the balconies in the twilight
Photoshop rendering of the balconies in the twilight

Modelling

Protype for the finish of the Reflective Ripple balconies

This mirror finished, stainless steel look was what was eventually settled on as perfect approach.

I made a half sized balcony model with he help of Joel Kikuchi at Oxbow Fabrication in Seattle.

Half sized balcony model

Fabrication

Fabrication and final trouble shooting were next. There were several revisions to the graphics to get the panels just right. Finally, we were able to look at the first one, with its protective coating on. The design team met at Advanced ironworks and Peter van Overbeek got to be the first one to try out the balcony.

Inspecting the first balcony at Advanced Ironworks

Installation

By late April 2023 the first few balconies had been installed. By the summer of 2023 all 16 balconies were be up at the beautiful Spectra Apartments near Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington.

Side view of a selection of balconies at Spectra Apartments
Corner balcony at Spectra Apartments

Thanks to everyone who helped make this project a reality.

David Franklin

Drift Inversion in Hi-Fructose Magazine

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Drift Inversion in Hi-Fructose Magazine
Hi-Fructose Vol. 56

In support of Hi-Fructose’s Instagram spin-off @Hifructose.littleboxes ,the renowned art magazine, published a full page photo of Drift Inversion. Being included in Hi-Fructose is a dream come true. For me, it is the magazine that revived my faith in the contemporary art world. Showcasing contemporary artwork executed by artists with mind boggling skills and discipline. The magazine shows the best of what the art world has to offer. Being included  makes me feel that all the years of battling to keep growing as an artist have been well worth the effort. Big thanks to everyone who helped get this far.  You can get your copy here!

Drift Inversion sculpture

This was a project I did with my long time collaborator Aaron Whelton.  He is now a full Professor of Architecture at Portland State University.  Aaron is an amazing creative partner and good friend.  We also had a lot of help from family and friends.  More can be read about this installation and its creation here and here.

David Franklin and Aaron Whelton in Colorado
Aaron and I in Colorado

Where is Drift Inversion?

Located in Denver, Colorado on Central Park Boulevard. It is in the underpass between 53rd and 54th and can be accessed from the bike path on the Northfield Highschool side. It can also be accessed from the parking on the northwest side of the 54th intersection.

Map showing location of Drift Inversion

New Little Boxes

In the Spirit of Hi-Fructose Little Boxes I thought it would be  good time to preview a new sculpture series that is in the works. Some projects have been delayed due to the current state of the world. Others projects have continued to slowly creep along. This is one of the most exciting things in the works because if its location and huge scale.  It will be installed at the Tetra Hotel  in Sunnyvale, California in cooperation with T2 Hospitality and Andrea Schwartz Gallery

 

Early renderings show the scale of these installations.

Current physical scale models of the installation.

This and other exciting new projects will be coming soon!

David Franklin

Weaver’s Welcome at the Burke Museum

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How Weaver’s Welcome came to be…

Weaver’s Welcome                                             photo by Myrna Keliher

Finding inspiration at the Burke Museum

The Burke Museum holds a very special place for indigenous people in the Northwest.  It is a must see for anyone interested in the study of the history of the region.  It has long been the home of some of the best minds in Anthropology in the Northwest.  The Burke Museum has been home to such noted experts as Bill Holm, Robin Wright and now Katie-Bunn Marcuse.   The Museum at the University of Washington has long been recognized as the place to find out about just about anything about this region.

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Flight of the Spectrum

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Flight of the Spectrum Sculpture
Flight of the Spectrum is installed at The Seattle World School in cooperation with WashingtonState Arts Commission

Seattle World School

In this school we learn to fly together, no matter where you come from.

A couple of years I was contacted by the Washington State Arts Commission about creating a project for a newly remodeled school in Seattle.  I had no idea at that time what an amazing opportunity this would be, or what an incredible place Seattle World School is.

” It is one of only a few schools in the country designed as a preliminary entry point for immigrant children in their quest for academic achievement and full participation in American society.”

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Art Collaborations with Preston Singletary and Brian Perry

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Collaborating

Over the last couple of years it has been my fortune to collaborate on public art projects with two exceptional artists, Brian Perry (Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe) and Preston Singletary (Tlingit) These projects have made me become a better artist and it has been a dream come true to work on a large scale with artists that I have admiration for.

"Paddles Up" sculpture at The Point Hotel and Casino by Brian Perry
“Paddles Up” sculpture at The Point Hotel and Casino by Brian Perry

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New Installation “Sculpture in the Garden”

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The Crouching Figure Post
The Crouching Figure

The Back Story

This installation was made for the garden of a neighbor who travels the world collecting and teaching about exotic plants.  He has thereby created an amazing garden at his home in Indianola WA.  We have worked together on several projects over the years.  He was interested in a series of posts for installation in his garden.   He was interested in evoking some of the spirit of the Janseung  (a type of totem-like carving from Korea) that he has encountered in his travels.  Starting  at this point I began to research and draw.

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