Louis Dombowsky

Title:
Parhelion

Concept Statement:
Crystallizing is a natural phenomenon. I wanted to design a lamp first by studying the effect the sun has on our atmosphere since it is the source of life and energy. In meteorology a Parhelion is a refraction of sunlight through ice crystals high in the earths atmosphere. Seeing a parhelion in person on one of the coldest and driest days of our Canadian winter inspired me to create a sculptural form representing this natural phenomenon in it’s beautiful and novel form. The challenge was in transferring the form of an atmospheric body to paper then to software, choosing what to leave, what to add and trying to keep the natural form in its purity while giving it a very practical function. I included a dimmer on a subtle track at the center of the base for the user to choose the amount of the light he or she needs while cutting down on unnecessary energy consumption. My hope is to pay homage to the natural world by borrowing from its wild beauty and bringing a form of it into our homes.

Project Specs:
Parhelion stands 18” tall, 16” in wide and 4” deep with a sphere in the center of the halo 6” in diameter. A 0.5” steel tube connects the base to the crystal sphere bulb and is 4.75” long. The halo is 0.5” wide made with brass and is part of the boat-like lampshades on the right and left of the bulb. The two shapes and the halo are stamped from a sheet of 16-gauge brass, bent down the center and rolled into a ring and two shells. The base is 4” wide, 10” long and 1.75” tall.

Bio:
Louis Dombowsky comes from a family of inventors, builders and designers. He began building furniture with his grandfather at a young age and spent four years in the construction industry pouring concrete, framing houses and doing finish carpentry before building cabinets under a master craftsman. Louis started the Azuza design company in 2013, building and prototyping a wide range of tables and chairs that evoke a sense of adventure in form and structure. He designed furnishings for Kit and Ace stores in Saskatoon and Calgary and exhibited his collection at the 2014 IDS West as well as the Foster Eastman art gallery in Vancouver. Azuza pieces can be found in café’s, homes and for sale in retail stores around Western Canada. He is currently in his third year studying Industrial Design at Emily Carr University.

URL:
azuza.net

Place of Origin:
Canada