PRESS
PBN
October 2009
“Asher Dunn is the founder of Keeseh Studio LLC, a collaborative design shop that offers both services and classes from its headquarters at Pawtucket’s Hope Artiste Village. Dunn received his bachelor of fine arts degree from the Rhode Island School of Design last year. He talked with Providence Business News about Keeseh (pronounced “KEY-seh,” it means “chair” in Hebrew) and the design community in Rhode Island.” PBN Article
The Providence Journal
Do-it-yourself spirit fills Providence’s Foo Fest
August 2009
“Taking part for the first time was Keeseh Studio, a Pawtucket-based organization that’s trying to be for woodworking and three-dimensional design what AS220 is for painting, printmaking and two-dimensional art.
The studio was founded by Asher Dunn, a 2008 graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, and two classmates. Dunn worked in design for Crate & Barrel, the home goods company, but wanted to do more work with his hands. He and his friends came up with the idea for the studio, which takes its name from the Hebrew word for “chair.”
At Keeseh’s booth, people were able to test their woodworking skills by making simple spatulas, salad spoons and other kitchen utensils.
“I need a place where I can try out my ideas,” Dunn said as he described the creation of the studio. “I’m very hands-on.”
He could have been speaking for any of the artists at Foo Fest.”See article here
IDSA WhosNext
March 2009
“Some designers begin their design careers very early. But few get their start while they’re still wearing diapers. Asher Dunn is one of those few. The founder of Keeseh Studios reveals a bit more of his own life story and discusses a new way to build a collaborative design environment.
Asher Dunn, originally from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, launched his design career early. Very early. (As a toddler, according to his parents.) Less than a year after completing his undergraduate studies at RISD, he founded Keeseh Studios and made a home in Pawtucket, RI, where he enjoys kayaking, sledding and going on adventures, when not engaged in one of his many design endeavors.”See article here
500 Tables
March 2009
“The work of today’s preeminent furniture artists as well as up-and-coming innovators can be found in 500 Tables, a spectacularly diverse juried collection. Andrew Glasgow - Executive Director of the American Craft Council and former Executive Director of The Furniture Society - has selected pieces that reflect classic, traditional, and masterful woodworking along with tables that utilize alternative materials and aesthetic sensibility.”
“The table transformed more than merely practical places upon which we set coffee cups, the 500 tables selected for inclusion in this exquisitely illustrated book are remarkable works of art. They offer surprise, innovation, craftsmanship, and beauty. Artists will find inspiration in the inventiveness inherent in each individual table, and readers and collectors will delight in the breadth and scope of the entire collection.” Keeseh has pieces of work in this book.
RI Monthly
March 2009
“It’s called Keeseh Studio and summer class registration just opened. Asher Dunn, a fine furniture designer who founded the studio last June after wondering why woodworking shops couldn’t work more like gyms, says they fill up early –– the studio is already outgrowing its space (he’s looking to rent more down the hall). He’s a friendly guy who gets excited about things like the automated CNC router that’s arriving soon (it’s a machine that can carve shapes out of wood using computer modeling) and is working on cooperative arrangements with other cool places like AS220’s print studio and the Steel Yard’s metalworking shop.”See article here
Pawtucket Rising
January 2009
Keeseh Studio was recently shown in the documentary Pawtucket Rising, recently aired on Rhode Island PBS.
“Pawtucket Rising is a new documentary about the unlikely story of the revitalization of the city of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Pawtucket was once a burgeoning mill city. It is the home to the Slater Mill, the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Pawtucket’s fortunes fell when the country plummeted into the great depression and it has never fully recovered. When artists could no longer afford the skyrocketing real estate in nearby Providence they were forced to take their business elsewhere. Mayor James E. Doyle recognized that The Arts could be an important catalyst in his city’s revitalization. The city seized the opportunity to invite these small businesses to relocate to Pawtucket. As a result, Pawtucket is now restoring and renovating mill and industrial space that had once sat vacant and decaying. This documentary shows the history of the past decade revitalization of the city. The city is experiencing its greatest boom in decades. Pawtucket is rising.”See the Pawtucket Rising trailer by clicking here
PBN
January 2009
“PBN: What are some examples of people doing innovative work in Rhode Island’s industrial design community?
Asher Dunn, president of Keeseh Studio and a recent graduate of RISD’s Industrial Design Undergraduate program, designs furniture, interiors, products, and gadgets, both of its own initiative and through commissions. Keeseh Studio has united our younger designers who share similar outlooks on design and its context, helping one another realize new and innovative ideas. The studio offers a community for designers, inventors, artists, craftsman, tinkerers and makers.”PBN Article
Core77
November 2008
Keeseh Studio’s Make Some Green Competition mentioned on Core77.
“It’s hard to choose “the best” eco idea–after all, green is always good! Here is what Keeseh Studio had to say about the competition:
After lengthy discussion and deliberation the judges and Keeseh Studio chose one winner and three runner ups. Judges took into account design, functionality, remnant/waste use, environmental friendliness, and energy consumption.
The panel of judges included:
Jaime Salm : Creative Director of MIO Culture
Kristi Cameron : Senior Editor at Metropolis Magazine
Allan Chochinov : Partner of Core77
Graham Hill : Founder of TreeHugger
“The winning entry was submitted by Edward Browka of Ecovative Design, from New York, for his innovative packaging design: His design, “Negative Volume”, utilizes the natural bonding between agricultural wastes to create structural forms ideal for packaging. The product is a biodegradable replacement for polystyrene and Styrofoam. Negative Volume is a completely compostable product that utilizes agricultural byproducts, meaning it also serves as a great fertilizer for the home garden after use. Negative volume can be manufactured at competitive costs with existing packaging solutions.”"See the article here.
Metropolis Magazine
September 2008
Keeseh Studio’s Make Some Green Competition is announced in Metropolis Magazine.
“Keeseh Studio invites students and design enthusiasts to celebrate the pursuit of ecodesign through an international competition to utilize waste material.
A given manufacturing facility creates many copies of a product; therefore they create many copies of their waste material as well. Waste material can be used as raw material for other products or processes; this concept is known as upcycling.
The goal of the competition is to promote upcycling by encouraging the use of wasted materials to generate innovative designs and redefine the standards of environmental sustainability by fostering balance between conservation and development. This competition will provide a stepping stone to help educate viewers of the vast opportunities and future development of environmentally friendly processes, materials, and products.
All entries must be received digitally or by mail no later than October 1st.
3 entries will win media coverage of their product or process and one will win a cash prize of $1000.”
Notcot.org
2008
“Keeseh Studio is a design studio run by two talented RISD grads, Asher Dunn and Shane Richards. Both graduated this year - I was impressed by the quality of their student work and am looking forward to see what comes out of their studio this coming year.”Notcot.org
Design Democracy
2008
“At the beginning of April our industry professionals made their final selections and Context Furniture began working with the designers and fabricating the objects. Context displayed the objects at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair [...]. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and the booth was full of thought provoking discussion about design and manufacturing”Design Democracy ‘08
Modern | Design | Function @ Design Within Reach
April 2008
Shane Richards invited to show his work at the MDF show at the Design Within Reach Providence.
“Modern | Design | Function is a juried exhibition designed to uncover and promote innovative modern furniture by emerging designers in the North East region. Organized by the DWR Providence studio and juried by respected, creative professionals in the design, architecture, and art worlds in the North East. MDF provides an opportunity for peer, public, and professional recognition for up-and-coming designers and firms. A separate award will be given out to the designer that best exemplifies environmentally conscious design. Selected entries will be exhibited in the Design Within Reach studio, 210 Westminster Street, Providence.”
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© 2009 Keeseh Studio. // 999 Main Street Suite 701, Pawtucket, RI 02860 // (248) 877 4425 // info@keesehstudio.com