Table Making as a Study in Quality. 

Presenter

Roshan Kharbanda

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Michael Cottom, Department of Theater, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 2, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C6, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 1 (C1-C10) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

My thesis is a twofold project - learning how to successfully design and fabricate a table, and understanding the necessity and importance of quality in work. It does not just demonstrate what I have learned during my time at UMass, specifically in the Theater Department, but also how to apply lessons of workmanship throughout the entirety of my life. The end product of this thesis will be a coffee table, designed and built by me. This came from the idea of wanting to explore the entire process of creating a set, though that was not feasible due to time. Building a piece of a set was, though. This coffee table will be used for future shows in the department.

 I drew upon the works of accomplished woodworkers such as Tage Frid, John Feirer, George Nakashima, and the philosopher Robert Pirsig for inspiration. The woodworkers mentioned above not only describe techniques but also add information for how to prepare oneself for wood working. At the time of this research conference, this table will not be fully finished, thus I can only state that each step taken towards the final piece has been made with quality. Combining the ideas of quality with a physical creative process allows one to not only consider what it means to design or something of quality but to create it.

Keywords

Table Making, Quality, Theater, Design

Research Area

Art and Aesthetics

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