12 x 12 supplies twelve contemporary furniture designers with the reclaimed wood of twelve demolished New York City buildings. The exhibit, planned for the Spring 2012 Design Week, celebrates some of the city’s best furniture design, supports wood shop job training in under served communities and advocates for increased lumber reclamation at demolition sites in New York City. Through the exhibition, the material culture of a lost building is renewed by contemporary design that sustains the historical culture of a specific site.
12 x 12 is organized by Sawkill Lumber Co. and co-sponsored by Brooklyn Woods, Build-It-Green and 3rd Ward. Each of these profit and not-for-profits incorporate locally sourced reclaimed woods into their work and programs. Sawkill Lumber Co., based in E. Windsor, CT, with an office in Brooklyn, specializes in reclaimed lumber from dismantled 19th to mid-20th c. structures in the Tri-state area, re-milling the woods into modern building products. Brooklyn Woods helps unemployed and low-income New Yorkers start careers in skilled woodworking and cabinet making, providing hands-on training and job search guidance. Build-It-Green!, founded in 2004 with locations in Queens and Brooklyn, is NYC’s only non-profit outlet for salvaged and surplus building materials (75 tons on hand!). 3rd Ward is a dynamic Brooklyn based space that offers a wide range of classes, tools and work spaces in a range of disciplines, including their popular wood shop. Additional information available on the sponsors page or the web links provided.
The exhibit advocates for reclamation of large dimensional lumber at NYC demolition sites, a recommendation to the city’s building code by the Urban Green Council. The C & D waste stream contains a significant volume of antique and vintage structural lumber. Further information at Reclaiming NYC Historic Woods.
The 12 furniture works will be auctioned off through the exhibition with proceeds to benefit woodworking education and job training in New York City through the not-for-profit Brooklyn Woods.