Here in the San Francisco Bay Area we live in a rich and complex world of makers. With this series we want to dig deeper into what it means to be a maker. Are we all makers? What is the internal instinct or drive to be a maker? Is a maker the 21st century craftsperson with modern tools and technology? As we progress with the design of AIASF and the Center for A+D’s new headquarters where architects at Aidlin Darling make the conscious act of folding in the hand of the maker, we want to have some open-ended conversations with a selection of some San Francisco Bay Area Makers that are creating a broader niche for the themselves by involving nature, community, architecture, experimental materials and relationships to bring their ideas to the fore.

Both Karyn Gabriel and Chris French have an interchangeable relationship with architecture and making – in a sense from opposite directions. Chris brings his natural, schooled and nurtured talents as an artist and maker to his close, collaborative relationships with architects and designers; bringing ideas to reality where his creativity, skilled problem solving and making play a pivotal and influential role in the spaces they inhabit. Karyn’s design talents were steeped over the years from within her practice of architectural design while simultaneously nurturing her own artist drive to make. With a professional shift, Karyn’s balance has tipped to allow more focus on the making of her intricate, experimental, and many times site specific pieces – expanding the ways in which making can inform and create space.

Moderated by Lise de Vito, Design Industry Relations and Strategy, Henrybuilt; Owner, Zack | de Vito Architecture + Construction

Image: Karyn Gabriel Art and Architecture

Speakers

Chris French, Principal, Chris French Metal
Beginning in 1999 as a way to help pay for a fine art career Chris began making functional objects with metal. This practical approach to a formal training began to demonstrate his true passions for building, problem solving, planning, coordination, collaboration and organization. Today Chris French Metal is a full-service design driven architectural metal firm offering consultation, design assistance, shop drawings, fabrication, finish work and custom patina as well as delivery and installation. CFM facilitates extensive coordination with architects, engineers, designers and other building trades. Their shop is committed to offering each client a unique experience within the field of custom metal; providing straightforward customer service with artistic vision, superior technical skill, craftsmanship and execution. CFM’s collective experience has given them a working understanding of current fabrication technologies along with traditional craft methods. CFM specializes in projects that require thoughtful design solutions and precision detailing. Their palate is diverse, working with a variety of metals: steel, aluminum, bronze, stainless steel, copper and brass. Having working relationships with artists and other professionals allows them to incorporate wood, concrete, glass and other material into their projects.

Karyn Gabriel, Owner, Karyn Gabriel Art in Architecture
Karyn is a sculptural ceramic artist working in the San Francisco Bay Area. She studied architecture, graphic design and art, receiving a BFA in Interior Architecture from the University of Michigan. During a 25-year career in architectural design, Karyn’s award-winning projects have been recognized in numerous publications including Architectural Record, Interior Design, Contract Design and Print magazine. After years creating designs on paper, Karyn’s yearning to realize those ideas using her own hands propelled a return to the studio. Awarded a full-merit scholarship to study at Oregon College of Art and Craft, Karyn received a post-baccalaureate degree in sculptural ceramics. She continued her art studies as a curatorial intern at Portland’s Museum of Contemporary Craft under director Namita Gupta Wiggers. Karyn mines her design background to create work focusing on the raw beauty in pared-down form, experimentations in structure and a love of the imperfect. Her work is subtle yet filled with detail, beckoning the viewer to pause and pay close attention. While primarily working with clay, Karyn also pushes the boundaries of materiality. Using metal, leather and thread as structural components she creates compelling contrasts to the weightiness of the clay. Since 2018, Karyn has been a full-time studio artist and architectural designer exhibiting in California, Oregon and Washington.

(Moderator) Lise de Vito, Design Industry Relations and Strategy, Henrybuilt; Owner, Zack | de Vito Architecture + Construction
Lise de Vito’s passion for design, architecture and creative acts began early in life, influenced by a family of architects, industrial designers and artists. Evident in the graphic quality of her work is a strong ability to innovate. Lise’s professional experience covers a diverse range of project types including residential, retail and commercial. The design of award winning, urban-infill residential development work is a constant thread throughout Lise’s professional focus; vertically integrated projects from land acquisition to design|build brought to market. Lise received a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design, after which she worked for firms on the East and West Coast before joining Jim Zack to form Zack | de Vito Architecture + Construction. Although Lise remains an owner of ZdV, she joined Henrybuilt to bring her industry knowledge and diverse trade relationships to act in a strategic, forward facing role for the company.

Fresh Brew is a series of online morning conversations covering a variety of topics about all things architecture and design. Fresh Brew provides the general public and industry professionals with engaging dialogue and a space for inspiration during these challenging times.