David Johnson for Sidecar Furniture
Sidecar Furniture was founded in 2005 by David Johnson, whose connection with wood started early while he was climbing walnut trees, building forts, and making chicken coops with his father in California's rural Central Valley. As a graduate from the prestigious College of the Redwoods in Mendocino, David has studied traditional woodworking techniques under one of the great woodworkers of our time, James Krenov. Krenov teaches proper proportional balance and how to make furniture pleasant and inviting. This education remains the basis for David's work today.
The masters of mid-century Danish Modern are a big influence on David's designs. The shared aesthetics are easy to see, but David also shares their ethics, especially the belief in the timeless value of well-crafted objects. The initial cost of locally made and handcrafted pieces can be high, but it's low over the long term. Furniture that lasts and spans trends creates value that can be passed on to successive generations. This reduces the cycle of consumption and disposal which minimizes waste.
Each piece of Sidecar Furniture is made with wood that is sustainably harvested. The primary source is urban forested trees. Trees that are removed from our cities because of age, disease, or development are typically burned or ground up. David supports the growing urban forestry movement which instead uses these trees for fine woodwork. His other woods are salvaged or certified sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). All finishes and glues used are nontoxic.
Artist Website: http://www.sidecarfurniture.com
