Interview: Jared Rusten

SFist would love to be a patron of the arts. But alack, alack, our pocketbook (collectively) is not yet to the patronage stage. Instead we try to befriend and support (verbally and emotionally) as many of the area's amazing local artists as we can. SFist is constantly amazed by the variety of genres and mediums that artists here employ. Even in such a vaired scene, Jared Rusten stands out. His focus on solid wood furniture that is made by hand is, by his own admission, anachronistic. We just think it's beautiful.

Functionally beatiful, since Jared encourages looking and touching. Not something many artists encourage you to do when you see their art, but Jared hopes that you will feel compelled to touch his chairs. SFist first saw Jared's work in a short film about the making of the "Palo Alto" chair. You can check out the movie at Design Within Reach on Filmore on February 10th. You'll even have a shot at winning one of his clocks. But just don't show us if you do, SFist might not be able to cope with the envy.

Name
Jared Arthur Rusten

Introduce yourself in one sentence
I'm a maker, a player of parlor games, an anachronism.

Age and Occupation
28, designer/maker of furniture

Home Town
Born in Spokane, WA -but I claim San Jose

How long have you lived in the Bay Area and WhereLived in San Jose from age 5. Spent time in AZ (because cheap!), and LA and thanks to the dot-com bust, was able to afford to return home.

Favorite website
craigslist

Favorite local business
I like what Google is doing.

What I'm currently Reading
"Eames Design"

Favorite mode of transportation
1964 Ford Econoline Van.

Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay AreaI like Vetiver a good amount.

Favorite local hangout
Game night, anywhere.

SF has the BEST:
Highway -280.

You've never lived in SF until:
you've been in a parade of some sort.

Best View in San Jose:
-top floor of the King Library

Favorite Walk or Hike:
Castle Rock, off of Skyline in the Santa Cruz Mtns.

You can tell someone is a local here IF:
Their outfit does not match.

SF would be soooo much better if only:
Closer to San Jose.

Best Burrito:
La Victoria, downtown San Jose.

Best Restaurant:
not interested in food enough for this question.

Favorite author to come out of the Bay Area:
Are we claiming Ken Kesey? Of Course!!

Place you always tell visitors to check out:
Vintage clothing on Haight.

You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in SF, what are you going to do?>
Look for parking. Pay for parking.

I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist:
mulitple cars, machinery, many free junk items.

I want all the SFists out there to know:
there is a chair show at the Design Within Reach studio on Fillmore
Feb. 10th from 6-8. Be there by 7:15 to see a short film.

How do you describe your furniture?
Its wood. Its solid. Its both modern furniture and functional art. I
design and build each piece by hand using local, salvaged, and
sustainable hardwoods. No veneers. My goal is for you to see one of my chairs and think, "Wow, that doesn't look like the wood at Ikea," and feel compelled to touch it.

What do you like about being an artist/ craftsman in the Bay Area?
I really appreciate the spirit of ambition and innovation here, the
spirit of entrepreneurship and community, the political atmosphere.

What would you change in the scene here?
I wish there were as many generous patrons here as there are talented artists.

Tell us a San Francisco Story:
I bought a blue, 1960's 3-button suit at Wasteland on Haight for $15.
I wore it many times over a period of four years, and sold it back to
Wasteland for $15.

Question you'd ask if you were doing this interview:
If you could import any other city and stick it in the bay area, what
would it be? My answer: Cambridge, MA.