Sean Woolsey | Costa Mesa, California (US) | By Lee Fleming

A fine artist and craftsman, Southern California based Sean Woolsey creates unique furniture, art and photography following an unorthodox creative process. Woolsey’s hand-made wooden furniture is crafted using traditional techniques and a mathematical approach, whereas his artwork is more experimental. Woolsey early inspiration can be traced back to his childhood; he grew up among a family of artists, his great grandmother was a talented landscape and oil painter and his closest inspiration, his father, a stained glass artist and film photographer.

Inside his Californian studio in Costa Mesa, you’ll note examples of Woolsey’s cross-disciplinary artworks that range from abstract copper paintings to wooden tables, items of homeware and skateboards. His craft approach is largely influenced by his appreciation for the Japanese philosophy Wabi-sabi, an aesthetic centred on the acceptance of transience and imperfection to find true beauty.

Woolsey’s pieces are inspired by his travels and the photography taken on his adventures, shot entirely in film. The photograph that inspired him to create the artwork, whether an image of the colour palette, patterns or textures, accompanies each piece. But most interestingly is Woolsey’s choice of materials, his art is created on sheet metal and he uses paints, patinas and water-based acids to cause chemical reactions with the metal. Once he’s satisfied with the outcome, the metal is sealed with epoxy resin to prevent any further change and framed using black walnut. Each piece of art also bears Woolsey’s signature on a brass inlay plaque.

To find out more visit Sean Woolsey’s website or check out his online shop where his furniture and artwork is available to purchase.

Patagonia presents Damnation | Ventura, California (USA) | By Lee Fleming

A influential film documentary, Damnation aims to highlight the mayhem and negative ecological factors caused by these hulking and obsolute structures. Federally governed dams such as the Ice Harbor Dam, the Lower Monumental Dam, the Little Goose Dam and the Lower Granite Dam have been named as the most harmful in the US as they provide minimal value and cost millions to maintain yet actively harm public safety, ecosystems, fisheries and tribal culture.

This short film by Ben Knight and Travis Rummel (Felt Soul Media Production) is one of sheer natural beauty, impressive cinematography and unexpected discoveries. It focuses solely on the rivers, landscapes and cultural change altered by dams and is presented by outdoor specialist Patagonia and the company’s founder, environmentalist and Executive Producer, Yvon Chouinard. Alongside co-director Travis Rummel, co-producer Matt Stoecker (Stoeker Ecological ) also provided the underwater cinematography for the film which will be screened across the world, having started on Monday 8th September at Rosebud Theater, Wauwatosa (Wisconsin). All the screenings of Damnation are listed on the website.

A petition to ‘crack down on deadbeat dams’ has been created in conjunction with the Damnation documentary film and is backed by supporting partners Patagonia and Save Our Wild Salmon. The petition aims to raise awareness and change America’s national attitude by calling on President Barack Obama to intervene and take action.

AXS Geodesic Dome Incense Burner | Los Angeles (USA)

This hand built ceramic incense burner is by Los Angeles based RS Handmade for AXS Folk Technology. The ceramic work of art has been custom made to sit gracefully with AXS Folk Technology's conceptual collection that draws inspiration from the past, present, commune life and the Bay Area in the 1960s.

Read more at AXS Folk Technology

Nakashima Estate | Pennsylvania (USA)

Located in New Hope, Pennysylvania (USA) the Nakashima Estate was designed by the late George Katsutoshi Nakashima, a Japanese-American woodworker, architect and furniture maker. Hailed as one of the leading innovators in 20th century furniture design and a father of the American craft movement, Katsutoshi tells of the history of woodwork in his book The Soul of a Tree: A Woodworker's Reflections and explains how from small beginnings, great things can develop.

Today the Nakashima Estate, designed by Katsutoshi for his family, is operated by a team of dedicated craftsman and led by his daughter Mira who helped design and make the existing furniture. The estate is comprised of 14 properties all landscaped by Katsutoshi and includes a showroom, museum and studio housing past and current works. Eight of the 14 properties are available to visit on scheduled tours, check the Nakashima Estate website for details.

Photography by Brian Ferry.

Shinola x Public Supply Pencils | Detroit (USA)

Public Supply is a New York based store producing high quality writing, art and office essentials that provide public school teachers with resources to help support creative work in the classroom.

With a belief that every student has the right to an arts education, Public Supply have collaborated with Detroit watchmaker Shinola to create a limited run of 500 pencil sets in Shinola's signature orange colour. The set of 12 classic pencils includes a rubber eraser and standard No.2 graphite core; a percentage of all profits will support creative arts classrooms in Detroit Public Schools and each box has a hand-stamped tracking ID that allows its owner to locate the exact classroom they helped to fund.

Available from Shinola.