KELSEY VANSICKLE

Eric Zdancewicz is a visionary that brings to life the beauty of wood, the finesse of ceramics, and the innovation of object design. Join me in uncovering the inspirations, techniques, and passions of this remarkable artisan as he takes us through a day in the life at his home studio and workshop.

 
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Tell me a bit about your journey and what drew you towards working with wood in particular? Was there a pivotal moment or was it a gradual progression through time?

It was gradual, but with moments of clarity that cemented my interest in woodworking and design. I only started considering it seriously and investing in tools and machinery around my mid twenties. Before that time I would consider myself more of a weekend DIYer, taking on a bunch of disjointed projects that over time resembled something like furniture. I got a job at Lee Valley when I was starting out, and they let me use the workshop space to make store fixtures or models for kits they sold. I learned a lot there and the discount helped me build up my toolkit. I eventually scraped together a portfolio and was setup by a friend with a designer looking for a shop assistant. It was a huge adjustment in terms of the scale and quality I was used to working at, and was invaluable experience.

When did furniture and object design become a strong focus for you?

Probably just after graduating. I moved into my first apartment and wanted to make the space my own, but things I wanted were either out of reach or not exactly what I wanted, so I tried making them myself, then for other people. I never thought about it at the time, but now I can see that the furniture thing combines a lot of the interests and skills I had coming out of school, but didn’t know where to place. Handwork, sculpture, experience design, engineering, architecture, and photography are all intertwined in the work, and the utility is so flexible. It can be art or or something brutally practical, or both, or neither. Having that range is important and keeps things interesting.

You had mentioned to me in our conversation that you’re using this time in your life as a self-imposed residency, can you explain a little bit more about that decision?
 
Yes, I had applied to several residencies this year that didn’t work out, but since I have the space and a ton of extra materials, there was really no barrier to just pretend my studio is the residency for a couple weeks. It sounds a little silly saying it out loud, but it was so important to change my mindset of coming into the studio and treating each day like an opportunity to play with ideas and see what comes out. The most difficult part is saying no to new projects and trusting myself to be the sole driver of the work, but I purposely moved back to my family home in order to have that flexibility, so to not take the time to invest in myself would defeat the purpose.

What are some current projects you’re working on?

I’m really into lighting right now. I had experimented with it early on and never came back to it, so its fun coming back to it from a different angle and with more experience. I’ve got some momentum going with a recent sconce lamp I made, and I have some more ideas on the way that bring ceramics into the mix. Apart from that, during the residency I made some scale model stool forms, one of which I plan to make a full size version of, and “extruded wood” furniture - which is something I’ve been experimenting with and first tested in the welcome desk I made for MOCA Toronto.

Did objects always hold an important role for you in your life? Or have you found that you were drawn to objects over time?

I used to love watching How it’s Made on Discovery channel as a kid, so from an early age I think there was an appreciation that everything made requires so much thought and effort, and holds information. My Dad is a DIY guy and my Mom doesn’t like to waste anything, so there was an ethos born from that - to find your own way and to repair instead of discard.

Where do you draw upon inspiration? Do you think it shows itself in the work that you create?

Lately I’ve been inspired by all things tried and true, that have stood up to time and look better than they were originally. There is a constant push for novelty in design, which isn’t necessarily bad, but focusing in on what works and making slight tweaks is more appealing to me than reinventing the wheel. Observing and photographing the built environment is my most useful process for understanding what works and what doesn’t. Wood is always breathing and changing with the seasons - I think the thought put into how that will affect a piece is constant in my work. There is also an overwhelming amount of inspiration available online, and the work being put out by other designers is incredible. I actually have a harder time limiting my influences than I do finding them, and I’ve been trying to curb how much I take in on a daily basis. Slowing down and creating silence has been a major realization in the past month, and turning off has surprisingly yielded more inspiration than letting everything in.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?

The entire process is the reward, it would be too difficult to pick one. While there are definitely times when I’m not having fun, the ups and downs and head scratching make for a more interesting end product. Being challenged in one way or another and finding myself on the other side is a very satisfying feeling.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years?

I have lots of ideas for where to take my work and I’m at a point where I need to choose one and commit. I’d like to be able to have my own space, to live outside the city, close to nature. A balance of made to order, custom, and one off items sustaining the business. I’d also like to be able to hire one or more assistants who are early in their journey and pay forward the mentorship I’ve been so grateful to receive myself.