WATCH: Interview with Wendell Castle, 1932 - 2018

Wendell Castle, the father of the art furniture movement, died Saturday at age 85. I’m privileged to have spent a few days with him while shooting a video, and while our time together was personal, the time wasn’t long enough to call him a friend. Thoughtful, soft-spoken and passionate are three words that come to my mind. I’m willing to admit that I’m not in love with all his furniture - though many pieces are amazing. I will let you and posterity provide the praise his work deserves.
Purchase the video here: goo.gl/U3hQB8
I’d rather say a few words about the man I met. As a child he was dyslexic and a poor student who said he was good at two things: drawing and daydreaming - neither of which were valued in his small town in Kansas. He persevered against expectations to put those passions to work. As with anything worthwhile, it took some time and there were what he considered to be missteps along the way, but Wendell was very comfortable with reinventing himself. In fact, he felt that was an important part of growing as a person and an artist. His style changed many times throughout his career primarily because he got tired of doing “that thing” and pushed himself to do something new. That’s a skill I think we can all benefit from.
His ability to challenge himself has earned him awards and accolades. Much of his work resides in well-known museums throughout the world, showing bold, organic designs that were whimsical and radical. Part of his willingness to evolve included working in different mediums, moving from wood to stone and plastic resin. In every medium, he pushed the boundaries and excelled.
In his early 80’s when we met, Wendell was solidly in the middle of working with a robotic CNC machine to shape his furniture - once again pushing himself toward something new. But his days still started with him, pencil in hand, sketching at his drawing board, refining an existing concept or developing something new. He was always creating, and that’s the way I’ll remember him. He will be missed, but his creativity will be with us always.
- David Thiel
Purchase the video here: goo.gl/U3hQB8

[@philipbyrnes7501]

I’m very sorry to hear that sad news. Another great man lost. Thank you for preserving at least some of his marvellous legacy

[@reforzar]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@glenn549]

My condolences to the family of this well renown artist.

[@John1018]

mhm

[@philipbyrnes7501]

Are you saying that he is going to die this year? Why the -2018??

[@reforzar]

Philip Byrnes he died on Saturday Jan 20

[@jameslucas6589]

Does the word Fugly fit here? I am sorry, but nothing about his work quantifies as beautiful.if I had a room of his stuff I would sell it or move. Why do people celebrate terrible?

[@reforzar]

James Lucas you can’t see that people have other views than you? I feel sorry for you.

[@jameslucas6589]

Brian Prusa Don't feel sorry for me. He and others can make or design anything. His and your viewpoints are no more valid than anyone else's. He can make furniture from plastic zip loc bags for all I care and yes to some, they would be just beautiful. But in that moment, I may decline the privilege of knowing how beautiful the plastic bags are. If my lack of acceptance of someone's art and design is to be viewed as a lack of acceptance of others work, then I must say "C'est la vie". The right to personal taste is in my mind, an inalienable right to be granted by no one; certainly not pitied.

[@clearobsession3409]

You certainly have the right to point your view, and taste.. Doing so very rudely on a post regarding a celebration of a life's work of someone who just died, is a bit tasteless.

[@jameslucas6589]

Clear Obsession You are right, I am quite disrespectful. I should consider this. This was a video to celebrate his work. That's fine. I was so gobs trucked by the vacuum of taste I was too quick to speak. Warhol was renowned, yet his attempt at recreating Frankenstein was so foul and nauseating I took my 7 year old son and walked out. My only mistake was not asking for my money back. Painting a can of soup, or creating a sculpture of a coat on a chair is by his own definition "lazy, putting it over on people". Those are his words. If one can find someone to buy it, then I suppose it's art. But it is just a spoof. I don't render spoofs as furniture nor art unless there is something very extreme in ability. I also believe that life goes on. In my way of thinking, it does not end with a dead body. So, for me to lament the loss of anyone is a dichotomy. I miss the conversation, and closeness of those who I know when their bodies fail them. On the other hand, it is a waste of emotion to miss those you do not know. He lives on.

[@clearobsession3409]

I have to tell you that I myself, many times, find myself puzzled by what "art" means.. What I respect about it, is the fact that it makes us ask questions. We can still keep our perspective and even dislike the work, we must. Without a perspective of the extreme, we will never be able to test our capabilities. Most important thing is, never stop trying.