Susan for Susan, Vanessa Lee Jackson, Zachary Besner, & Nicole Jewell Coon
REST - DesignTO Festival

January 17–February 2, 2019
Opening: Thursday, January 17th 6–8pm

Susan for Susan is the Toronto based studio of brothers John and Kevin Watts. Working in both art and design, their work is informed by a shared interest in archiving their daily experiences. The narratives they present are microcosms of transitory moments in both their personal lives and their exposure to trade environments.

Vanessa Lee Jackson is a designer who creates furniture and objects which exist at the intersection between display and use. Her work showcases the properties that a practical object can hold through the use of phantasmagorical forms. Vanessa’s intent is to open up the participant’s perception into the realm of the possible, rather than settling on a fixated meaning. She succeeds at this by integrating imaginative ornamentation into her furniture forms, highlighting that their aesthetics are just as important as their function. Vanessa is currently undertaking her MDes at OCAD University and is an instructor in the Craft and Design Furniture program at Sheridan. She lives and works in Toronto.

Zachary Besner, born in Kitchener and currently living in Toronto, is an artist/designer with a keen interest in furniture and interiors.

Nicole Jewell Coon is a furniture designer. She holds a BA in Art History from McGill University and is currently studying Furniture design at Sheridan College. Nicole’s interest in curatorial studies and visual culture has pushed her to develop technical skills and examine object-hood and contemporary furniture approaches. Based in Toronto, Nicole works on different personal, collaborative and commissioned projects.