As part of the preparations for her first solo exhibition, held this past summer at the NOW Gallery in South London, Simone Brewster designed “Crown,” a set of wooden combs inspired by traditional African hairstyles.
Six weeks later, unable to find anyone who could execute the small but complex designs, Ms. Brewster was about to give up.
Then Max Lamb, a friend and fellow designer, offered his workshop, which had the band saw, pillar drills and sanding machines she needed to make them herself.
“It went from being this really stressful thing, because no one would make them for me, to something really fun,” said the designer, 40, who has picked up a variety of craft skills since she studied woodworking at school.
“Once I know I’m going to make something, it’s not stressful for me because I know I can do it.”
Persons:
Simone Brewster, ”, Omar, —, Brewster, Max Lamb, “
Organizations:
NOW, “
Locations:
South London