Dallas Gara, Sculpted Ziricote rocker (WORLD 2022)

Photos:

Snap Foto

Country:

Canada

This project began with a drawing that encouraged me to push my skills beyond any rocking chair I had built in the past. I wanted the shape to be flowing and soft with each piece of the chair gracefully moving from one to the other. Elements were incorporated that were complex in creation but pleasing to the eye; curves that would inspire someone to ask how the rocker was made. I envisioned a dark rich brown, almost black, wood that would emphasize every curve and subtle accent. A chair made completely out of Ziricote would provide that vision. Ziricote is a wood that from a distance looks very understated but as you draw closer, is filled with character and dimension. It is a rare wood in this part of the world (Canada). Stock that was wide enough to accept my newly designed templates, free from excessive inclusions, and dried correctly to avoid Ziricote’s natural tendency to crack was hard to find. I would need almost sixty board feet of this wood at 8/4 thickness. Not an easy task but my local wood store (Woodcache) was kind enough to bring in the wood I required. Construction of the rocker began by making birch wood templates that emulated the shapes in my drawing. These templates were then clamped together to assemble a life size model. Once I felt confident with the shapes, I traced them onto the Ziricote stock and began cutting them out on the bandsaw. The joinery in this chair was made with Maloof joints for the seat/legs and the remaining joinery was made with custom jigs and a router. They were then refined with hand tools for a perfect fit. Some curves were made from a single piece of wood and cut out on the bandsaw, while others, like the rockers and back braces, were made from bent laminations of Ziricote over a form. The curves were shaped and smoothed with Kutzall wheels and rasps then sanded to 400 grit. The chair was finished using a combination of tung oil, boiled linseed oil, and a poly blend. The complexity of a rocking chair is profound – it is the perfect combination of beauty and comfort. A rocker’s design provides ultimate comfort and functionality, while simultaneously serving as a piece of art. One of my favourite elements of this rocker are the holes in the crest rail that show the back braces flowing through, a shape that is mirrored in the back leg supports. Other special elements include the small flares on the back leg/arm joint that remind me of the whisp of a paint brush, and the tear drop back braces that curve into the small of a person’s back. My inspiration comes from many woodworkers, particularly Sam Maloof and Hal Taylor. They are brilliant creators. I am thankful to people like Hal who take the time to teach others and share their talents. I would not be where I am today without his help and influence.

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