Max Lamb is having his third solo show at Salon 94 Design that’s on exhibit through September 11th. Its title – Wood, Stone – represents the two bodies of work it includes, one using western red cedar and the other stone. Both use ancient and modern techniques to reach their finished state.
One half of the exhibition displays monolithic stone chairs from four separate series Lamb has created. Rotating 360• Tonalite Boulders introduce his engineered steel bearings, while a rare pair of Dolomite boulder chairs showcase the geological composition of the Western Dolomite mountains, which resemble a natural terrazzo. The Campione chair prototype uses over a dozen techniques, sampling the techniques of stone working, and finally a Feather and Wedge Chair that begins as a slab of Tonalite and hewed using the ancient stone splitting technique known as feather and wedge. Each of Lamb’s cuts makes two pieces, leaving zero waste behind.
Each chair, stool and bench in Lamb’s western red wood series begins with sold planks that are hand-marked and cut into segments with the whole resembling a puzzle.
“Each cut is mapped out and the consequence of the cut is processed before the incision is made, every cut and part generated is essential,” he said. “Each move is considered, exact and focused whilst also requiring a view on the macro, the whole, the end game.”
Max Lamb: Wood, Stone is on view by appointment at 3 East 89th Street, New York City through September 11th.