The offers a unique experience for patrons as well as vendors. The new art market is host to more than 60 artists every weekend. Each week, Patch will feature one artist and get a closer view what the heck they do.
Ferndale Patch: Who are you and what do you do?
Brian DuBois: I go by the name of Brian DuBois and am a designer/builder. I have a background that involves various trade sets and hands on experience along with two college degrees from local Detroit schools.
Ferndale Patch: How did you get your start?
DuBois: Well, I began my adventure in 1994 while attending the University of Detroit Mercy school of architecture and obtained my bachelor’s in architecture. From there, I worked in a few firms but decided to start a small design/build outfit, so I became a licensed builder. I embarked in various projects and furthered into exhibit engineering for the auto shows. In 2009, I decided that I wanted to further my education. I attended Cranbrook Academy of Art for furniture design and production and now I'm promoting my first collection of furniture that consists of four tables and a floor light all made from solid mahogany and cork.
Ferndale Patch: What inspires you?
DuBois: The factories and bridges in River Rouge that I grew up around have inspired me to understand how things go together. I have a strong belief of being able to understand the methods of construction in design and expanding the concepts between form and function. Once you understand what tools, methods and materials are capable of doing, then you can design accordingly.
I would like to be the first designer in the Detroit area that is pushing modern-type design in the furniture scene for the medium to higher end market. Not everything from the city has to be metal and rustic based. I like clean and simple design that works with form, function, materials and proportions.
Ferndale Patch: What is it about the Rust Belt that attracted you to it?
DuBois: I like the way it is setup and the idea behind it. For myself being a local designer and builder, it gives me an outlet to rent space for a short time and show my work. I would rather rent space at organized events than leave my product in a gallery that doesn't support my clientele or has a lack of traffic. If I want to push my furniture one week, my art work the next, then my design services after that, then I can.
Ferndale Patch: Tell us one thing about your work that would surprise us.
DuBois: My work spans from architecture, model building, construction, design/build, exhibit engineering, furniture, t-shirts, and artwork. Right now I'm mainly focusing on developing furniture collections and artwork.
I would also like to teach design studio at a local University, that way I can keep my creativity here and mentor students in various trades and design techniques.
2:37am studios will be at Rust Belt July 15-17. Furniture can also be purchased online at: www.237amstudios.com.
