Gala Gulacsik, Mirage Cocktail Table (STUDENT 2024)

Student:

Tertiary

Name of school or tertiary institution, name of woodworking teacher (if you have one), and name of photographer:

Port Townsend School of Woodworking

The Mirage Cocktail Table draws inspiration from the jagged edge of a broken shell, echoing its ridges and the fractures that follow their grain. The table features a reversible coopered base made from solid, air-dried Alder sourced from the Pacific Northwest. The base is crafted from fourteen staves, cut to form an elegant, sloping angle. The glass surface can rest on the small radius of the base, where the hand-carved, mottled texture of the interior subtly glimmers. When the base is flipped, the glass rests on the stave tips, showcasing the carving in full view. In this position, light travels along the texture, creating a shimmering effect reminiscent of a mirage. The shifting length of the staves was designed to create both visual and structural balance; while the curves of the stave tips were derived from the base’s small radius, contributing to a sense of visual harmony and rhythmic chaos.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.