Grad School

ryanmurray.info

rjmurray — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:31:11 +0000

My web site is live!!!

Please check out my new web site at ryanmurray.info

Studio shots of some new work

rjmurray — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:27:58 +0000

The collapsible pancake maker.

One of my bent wood bicycle fenders.

And a close up.

Low Tech On the Lowest Place On Earth

rjmurray — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:16:53 +0000

Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem invited our graduate furniture department to join them for their conference, “Low Tech On the Lowest Place On Earth” which they host every year at the Dead Sea. Here are some photos from our excellent trip.

The Thesis begins!!!

rjmurray — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 23:33:44 +0000

Our proposed thesis summaries were due recently. We were told that they will probably change and evolve into something else by the end of the year. If it does I’m sure it will be for the better but I’m pretty excited about the direction I’m heading.

So here it is.

I had just turned 28 and was itching for a major change in my life. I had applied for graduate school because that seemed like the next logical step but the plummeting economy had me doubting if that investment could pay off. My other option was to sell off everything I owned and live off the land migrating from southern to northern Arizona following the weather. My future would ride on the outcome of the upcoming presidential election.

My theses will be the book that tells the story of my alternate life. The life I would be living right now had the outcome of the election gone differently. I set out into the world with nothing but what I thought essential to survival.

Research

My research will be introduced into the story as flashback like scenarios, comparing and contrasting the likeness of other real nomadic cultures to my nomadic experience. This research will inform and guide the journeys of my contemporary nomadic life.

Work

My thesis work will be a collection of the alternative dwellings and supplies my fictional self crafted while scaling down and learning how to live a nomadic lifestyle. My collection of pieces will consist of shelters, a device for cooking, a means for traveling from the desert to the woods and everything in between. The final presentation of these relics will be presented as if the viewer were in a natural history museum. Walking through the “museum” each display would visually tell a significant story from my travels.

If you have any comments, suggestions, concerns or questions please leave a comment.

My portable kitchen machine in action

rjmurray — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 23:21:49 +0000

Here are some pictures from our critique. This is a portable cooktop for a modern day nomad. The legs collapse for storage and lock into place with the flip of a switch.

My summer projects

rjmurray — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:27:35 +0000

It’s summer now and here is what I have been working on.

And they are mostly water proof. I made them from waxed rubber backed canvas, three layers on the back and the bottom along with a hard plastic insert to keep its form. Extra long flaps on the front and back to allow for over stuffing and cinches down with two leather straps. They worked great on our first mini tour, a 60mi three day and two great nights of camping.

I made this hammock with an optional bug net and a rain fly (rain fly not in photo).

Bent laminated chair

rjmurray — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:48:37 +0000

Laminated maple.

Metal stool

rjmurray — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:43:44 +0000

Rolled sheet metal and rubber trim.

Cotton stool

rjmurray — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:41:52 +0000

Cotton fabric and resin.

Paper and resin stool

rjmurray — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:40:33 +0000

Paper and resin.