Profile: Green River Project LLC
GREEN RIVER PROJECT: WALNUTS IN SEPTEMBER
Interview by Max King
FOUNDED IN 2017 BY AARON AUJLA AND BENJAMIN BLOOMSTEIN, GREEN RIVER PROJECT LLC’S RESEARCH-BASED APPROACH TO BUILDING FURNITURE AND INTERIORS HAS BEEN SHAPED BY TEN YEARS OF STUDIO PRACTICE AS ARTISTS IN NEW YORK CITY. ALONG WITH PRIVATE COMMISSIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL INTERIORS, EACH YEAR GREEN RIVER PROJECT LLC PRODUCES FOUR COLLECTIONS OF FURNITURE AND SCULPTURAL OBJECTS CENTERED AROUND A UNIQUE NARRATIVE.
How did you guys meet?
AA: We met through Maccarone Gallery, Ben was working at the gallery, I was working for one of their artists, Nate.
How much of your work in the fine arts world has informed your GRP work? (Maybe a boring question)
AA: I think it's pretty influenced by it, it's really what we know. Definitely know more about how to run a studio rather than a business, I think we were always into the idea of getting in over our heads in a new industry that doesn't have the same requirements that the art world did.
You guys are Au natural on the materiality front for the most part - could you draw parallels of this from the rest of your life?
BB: I don't like intermediary clothing, I just want to keep it simple, no underwear, socks, undershirt.
AA: He cuts out the middleman.
Who would you say is your biggest critic and who would be your biggest fan?
AA: It's interesting, talking about the art world, because I think when Ben and I were not going to make art anymore and focus on furniture and interiors some friends became critical of that. I think for a few people we were close to, it was kind of like we were bailing on them or we were doing something that was perceived to be less significant than making sculpture or painting. Biggest fan? I don't know, some of the people we work with continually, they've really become more like friends but are clients. The ones who really trust us to do our thing, it's a great feeling to have the trust with someone.
BB: Andrew Luck is my biggest critic, he's always on me about something.
What sucks out there right now for you?
BB: Getting stung by bees, I got stung by two bees today. And also building inspectors
Ben you are from the East Coast and Aaron from the West. Do you think these places have different sensibilities when it comes to thinking about identity?
AA: I always wanted to move to the east coast, to NYC. So I feel just proud to be around east coast people all the time. Also the Deli's and shandhich style is better over here.
How do you know when a piece is done?
AA: the deadline, otherwise we just keep it around, working on it slowly.
For people that only hack on their computer screens all day - what are they missing by never creating objects of use out of natures bounty?
BB: I really want the new Mac Book air.
When people say, “time to get my hands dirty” do they mean it’s time to do shit I don’t like?BB: I think it means like get into it, get into the thick of it, you know?
If people could morph into a piece of furniture and that was your one alternative identity… what would you be?
BB: A desk lamp
I feel like your pieces aren’t designed with sex in mind. A Kinky Collection could open you guys up to a wider audience….thoughts?
BB: Wow, this is great.
Do you think your work feels rough?
BB: What people sometimes see as roughness, I tend to feel is more elemental and pure.
If this chair had human personality traits, what do you think they would be like?
BB: Dilbert
How important is the storytelling around your pieces versus the Aesthetic value?
AA: I think it's really important, we like exploring history and the process of making objects. I think that comes from doing research before making work, the form is almost secondary to the narrative in a lot of cases.
Do you guys have an era and maybe a place in that era that you romanticize?
BB: Occasionally it's like the 30s, or turn of the century. That's when we're most excited, almost like design sensibilities of the 30s but tools of the early 20th century.
How does GRPLLC articulate itself inside this hyper consumer culture?
AA: We have a small team, we make things slowly, we consider the details. Sometimes we will get asked to do something like a millworker which we're down to do, but only when clients respect our time. Even if it's a small cabinet pull, it needs to take time to do it right.
Beauty or intelligence? Or what percentage breakdown of each?
AA: Ben always says that there is beauty in usefulness, we talk about that often.
Why does most contemporary furniture suck?
AA: I don't even know how to start, it's a world we feel like strangers in.
BB: It's like a bad joke, too much of a sense of humor but not funny, it's like watching a stand-up comedian bomb.
How important is it for you guys that people ‘understand craft’?
AA: Really important, it's everything to us. I think it's the best part of owning a piece of furniture is when you can tell someone has spent time on it. It's hard to fake that.
Process vs Result.. is one more important than the other?
AA: Result, there's so many failed attempts that get destroyed and repurposed in our studio.
What wisdom would you offer a 23 year old you if you could?
BB: Try not to have a boss.
