Artist/Tile Table Designer: Mark Funk
Photo Essay and Photos by Mary Anne Funk
The following table designs were showcased at Crackedpots 16th Annual Art Show. Mark of Ailgif Tile was one of the artists chosen to showcase his work.
Prior to starting on these two designs, Mark knew he wanted to make two tiled game tables but he was uncertain of how he was going to do it or what type of table top he wanted to use for them. It was a design idea he kept at the forefront of his thoughts, as he moved forward on other designs.
After cutting every square down to size and laying out the table, Mark lifted each piece to add thin set to every square before placing it back down.
During a renovation job, Mark salvaged two windows that he wanted to use for making tile tables. He was drawn to the character of each window. One day as he sat and looked at the windows, trying to decide what he wanted to do with them, he suddenly had a creative thought connection that brought both design ideas together.
Mark Funk sands down the window after adhering the tile pieces, to prepare the window for paint
Mark took some time after designing the table tops to decide on the legs he would use for the tables. Initially he thought about using wooden balusters that he found at ReClaim It in Portland, OR. As soon as Mark saw the metal stands that Gabrielle showed us, he knew found the perfect set for the tables. Thank you Gabrielle.
Mark Funk adds grout to the tile checker board table he has designed.
To connect the ideas, Mark used a combination of left over tile pieces he had from previous work, some new tile pieces, and old salvaged windows. To maintain the character of the windows, Mark kept the original hardware on the windows.
Mark Funk wipes down his handcrafted tile backgammon table as he prepares it for the caulk. He uses the caulk because he has grout in between tile and wood. which expand at different rates. The caulk will prevent it from cracking.
Mark Funk looks through wooden balusters at ReClaim It in North Portland, Oregon on N. Killingsworth
Later, however, Mark went with two metal stands that the store manager, Gabrielle pointed out to us.
Mark Funk looks over the metal leg stands that he has decided on for the tiled game tables.
Mark salvaged wood to attach to the leg bases. The base and the wood will be attached to the bottom of each handcrafted tile game table he made.
Every triangle on the tile backgammon table and every square on the tile checker board table was the result of cutting down larger pieces of tile five times each, to get to the final shape.
Completed handcrafted tile table with checkerboard design.
Completed handcrafted tile table with backgammon design.
External links associated with this post:
Ailgif Tile – http://www.ailgiftile.com
Ailgif Tile Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/ailgiftile
ReClaim It – http://reclaimitpdx.org/
Crackedpots – http://crackedpots.org/
All Photos © Mary Anne and Mark Funk/Ailgif LLC