ABOUT

This series of pieces is made in response to the appearance of mass-produced copies of my work in big-box retails stores and on sites likes Amazon, starting in 2013. All of the pieces are made with the cheapest materials I can obtain and made as large and as fast as possible without concern for craft or quality. This produces larger pieces for a relatively low price. The webshop service used is free, shipping fees are passed onto the customer, and time spent on photography and other aspects of promotion are kept to a minimum.

General info:

Since 2010, Doug Johnston has been focused on a process of coiling and stitching rope into a wide variety of work ranging from art objects to furniture, vessels and bags. Stemming from an interest in transforming braided cotton cord into simple baskets, the work connects a long history of spatial creation, from natural rock formations and canyons to architectural and sculptural spaces by utilizing technologies such as rope, coiled vessel construction, and industrial sewing machines mixed with the principles of Modernist design and 3D printing. Each piece is made in Brooklyn, NY by simultaneously coiling, hand-forming, and sewing braided cordage using vintage industrial sewing machines.

Since 2012, much of the studio output has been in collaboration with Doug's wife, artist and designer Tomoe Matsuoka, as well as a small team of highly skilled assistants.