Curriculum Vita
To realize built environment pieces into the art world
Selected commissions, collaborations, exhibitions publications (condensed)
Arborlawn Methodist Church – Balcony Railing Design by Lee Hill of Hahnfeld, Hoffer, Stanford, (HHS), fabrication and installation of stainless steel rail for mezzanine level life safety and fall improvement by T Diel. Fall 2019
Old Jail Art Center – Reception Desk Design 2018, fabrication and installation summer 2019
Pacheco Koch – Board room table – Design, fabrication and installation of 18’L x 5’w live edge water oak boardroom table spring 2019
O’neill Desk & support tables –April thru Dec 2018, Principle Pecheco Koch Fort Worth. T Diel design and fabrication of three piece suite of furniture out of white oak and steel for managing partner’s office. Desk 89”L x 36”D x 31”H, meeting table 48”dia x 30”h, credenza 60”L x 24”D x 30”H
BRIT (Botanical Research Institute of Texas) Sept 2017. Main staircase life safety improvement and enhancement with brushed stainless steel tread embedments for visual and tactile slip and fall prevention. Senior Architect Gannon Gries w BBP (Bennett Benner Partners), Fort Worth, TX
76107, "Work Spaces" by Meda Kessler March-May 2017 P12-16, Fort Worth, TX.
Fort Worth Public Art, ACT (Artist Coming Together) Master Plan Update Project Sept 2016 – May 2017. One of five member team awarded from open submission call to solicit the public as to where and what the future of the public art is look like, Fort Worth, TX.
Helmreich – Wulffen Library Wall Commission Jan 2017 Private collector. Custom shelving for art books (Baltic birch, stainless and mild steel, including stainless steel cabling. Fort Worth, TX
Wolfe-Brinsinger Table Commission 2016-2017 Private residence. Table w/ live edge salted maple w inset glass top with futuristic base of stainless and mild steel, including stainless steel cabling. Keller, TX 105"L x 50"w 30"h
Trinity Lutheran Church - Podium Sept 2016. Walnut solids and veneer, white leather, Baltic plywood. Corten Sign Jan 2015 Design and fabrication, w/ city licenses & permit pulling followed by installation of the 54' x 2 1/2'h laser cut 1/4"th corten steel sign. Erected on Montgomery St in the Cultural District in Fort Worth.
Gensler Architecture (Dallas) - Artist of the Month, Jan 30 2015, Artist talk and presentation w/ 7 works on display for 3 months in this 200 person design firm. Dallas, TX.
Trinity Trails - Peloton Aug 2014 sculpture of six bicycles drafting into a curve in collaboration with Jim Beckman. Design intent by Jim Beckman, technical drawings and stainless steel fabrication by Thomas Diel. Gifted to Tarrant County Water District. Located on the Trinity River at Edwards Ranch Fort Worth, TX. Approximately 30'L x 36"D x 39"h
Saginaw Dining Craft Commission July 2014 Private residence. Table w/ live edge walnut top with futuristic base (concrete, stainless and mild steel, including stainless steel cabling. Fort Worth, TX 126"L x 44"w 31"h
Stagen Leadership Communal Table and Benches Commission Feb 2014, Live edge walnut communal table and four benches, upholstery by Charles Alan Inc. Dallas TX 126"L x 40"w x 30"h
Design Talk Center for Architecture Oct 2013, Artist talk and presentation. Fort Worth, TX.
360 West, "Shop Talk" by Meda Kessler April 2012 P113-115, Fort Worth, TX.
Archi-Salon (Debut of Abrahamson Table) Commission dedication June 16/2001 Location VA Robinson Metal Studio, Chicago IL
New Orleans Zoo Sconces March 1998. Two copper wall sconces. Design in concert Wizznia Architects with fabrication by Thomas Diel. New Orleans, LA
Marriot New Orleans Arts District Sconces March 1998. Eight large sconces, four small. Design in concert w/ Howard, Montgomery & Stegar, lead by Kurt Schlough, design collaboration with fabrication by Thomas Diel. New Orleans, LA
Contemporary Art Center Commissioned by Mike Siegal chair CAC for 3qty Cyber Cafe Carts Oct 1997 New Orleans, LA
SOFA (Sculpture Objects and Functional Art) Chicago Fall 1997 Represented by Gallery I/O, Group show. Navy Pier, Chicago IL
Tulane (Newcomb) School of Art Lectern Commission for the Freeman Auditorium 1996 New Orleans, LA
Hess Marketing Board Room Conference Table Commission 1995 New Orleans, LA
V Reed Gallery Solo Exhibition March 18, 1995 Atlanta, GA
Awards
Best 3-D 1st Place 2022 An Artists Christmas benefit for Campfire, Fort Worth, TX
Best 3-D 2019 An Artists Christmas benefit for Campfire, Fort Worth, TX
Jurors Award 2018 Main Street Arts Festival, Fort Worth, TX
Merit Award 2017 Main Street Arts Festival, Fort Worth, TX
Second Place 3-D 2016 An Artists Christmas benefit for Campfire, Fort Worth, TX
Jurors Award 2014 Main Street Arts Festival, Fort Worth, TX
Best 3-D 2013 An Artists Christmas benefit for Campfire, Fort Worth, TX
Best in Show 2013 Main Street Arts Festival, Fort Worth, TX
Best Emerging Artist 2011 Main Street Arts Festival, Fort Worth, TX (first outdoor craft festival entered)
Adex "2004 Best of Show at Neocon" June 2004 for the design of "Chicago" series lounge, benches and tables, while employed as in-house design development manager at Charles Alan Inc. Merchandise Mart Chicago IL.
Resume
Thomas M Diel Thomas Diel Designs LLC
Thomas M Diel, Fort Worth, TX Thomas Diel Designs LLC Aug 2011 –Present
Furniture Designer - Art / Architectural Accessories Fabricator
Self-employed art - architectural accessories fabricator w emphasis in contemporary furniture.
Charles Alan Inc., Fort Worth, TX Aug 01 – July 2011
Furniture Designer - assistant Plant Manager for contract furniture manufacturer
Responsibilities include new product development with digital design processes, Auto Cad drafting and solid modeling versions 2002-2011, prototyping and redeveloping existing product line to incorporate CNC machining on Komo Mach II, CAM with Router Cim programming 2006. Wood, nonferrous metals and solid surface/plastic CNC routing experience with emphasis on production runs requiring special one piece flow jig set-up and nested base machining techniques.
Additional job tasks include client development, BOM, material and equipment procurement, job costing, scheduling, sourcing of subcontractors, and overseeing production and quality control of this 30 person manufacturing company. Directed initiatives in Lean Manufacturing - TPS (Toyota Production System) and one piece flow processes with KanBan inventory management implementation in conjunction with CNC machining.
Select projects include the Dallas Cowboys suites barstools, Tribeca Grand Hotel, NYC (development of lobby and restaurant furniture with Studio Soffield Designers), the University of Texas Tech football stadium suites furniture (designer and manufacturer of custom Spanish Renaissance style featuring bar-stools, tables, credenzas, lounge seating, benches). Design and development of the Meridian, Lone Star bar height tables.
V.A. Robinson LTD., Chicago, ILL Nov 00 – July 01
Project Manager / Shop Foreman
In charge of overseeing this six-person high-end ornamental iron shop. I would have stayed longer however spouses offer of a tenured teaching position lured us away.
Responsibilities included project bidding, job scheduling, material procurement, and consultations with clients, architects, and general contractors, as well as overseeing day-to-day operations.
Metal working methods employed such as MIG, TIG, milling and cold patination processes typical.
Of interest was the Kinselberg residence designed by the firm of Scott Himmel Architects. An extensive ornamental architectural bronze build out, on the 60th floor of Park Tower on Michigan Ave., and other such projects for the office of Stanley Tigerman of Tigerman-McCurry and work for Wheeler Kerns Architects.
Great Lakes Art Studio, Chicago, ILL Jan 99 – Oct 00 Project Manager / Shop Foreman
In charge of running this four man ornamental iron shop and overseeing the design, development, and fabrication of art and architectural accessories.
Sculpture fabrication, mount making, furniture fabrication and architectural railings and accessories made up the core products of this business. Of notable interest is the Polsky residence, a lavish Art Nouveau condominium on East Lake Shore Drive in downtown Chicago. This project was carried out with Environ Architects of Chicago was featured in the May 2002 issue of Architectural Digest.
Positive Space (The Gallery), New Orleans, LA Jan 95 – Jan 99
Owner / Operator
One of four artists owners of this Lower Garden District gallery, whose primary mission was to show chase new and upcoming art from within the community while also providing the four partners a place to show their works twice a year. Nine art openings a year were produced; film, theater, and spoken word events also were common. Various media were shown including photography, painting, and sculpture.
Preparator duties included gallery maintenance, painting, and lighting; preparing labels, installing and sometimes shipping exhibitions.
One show of national interest was “Guns in the Hand of Artist’s” conceived and curated by sculptor Brian Borello. His concept was to get guns off the streets of New Orleans in trade for sewing machines. The New Orleans Police Department crushed the guns which were they handed out to artists to create art. Another successful group show was the annual NO DEAD ARTISTS in collaboration with Tribe Magazine and later with Gambit Weekly.
One partner Johnathan Ferrara carried on the original mission to the day with his own successful gallery Johnathan Ferrara Gallery, New Oleans, LA.
Thomas M Diel, New Orleans, LA June 96 – Jan 99
Furniture Designer / Architectural Accessories Fabricator
Self-employed architectural accessories fabricator and contemporary furniture designer and fabricator.
Works produced include lectern for the Tulane University (NewComb) School of Art, the receiving area and three bar carts for the CAC Contemporary Art Center, two sconces for the New Orleans Zoo, 14 sconces for the Arts District Marriot Hotel, a boardroom table for Hess Marketing, and reception bench and logo for Performance Architecture (Howard, Montgomery, and Steger).
Thomas Mann Design, New Orleans, LA Aug 94 – June 96
Sculpture Department Manager
In charge of design in consultation with Thomas Mann and manufacture of a line of contemporary craft mirrors and numerous one of a kind sculptures from scale models. Job tasks included, production pricing, production prototyping, and sourcing materials and subcontractors, while overseeing two full-time employees. Other responsibilities included the design, manufacture, and installation of display designs for the galleries of Thomas Mann. Gallery duties including crating and crate making, installation and preparation of shows for the three New Orleans locations. Off site and out of state shows were coordinated through the auspices of the sculpture department requiring KD (knock down) booth and display design and manufacture for shows of the American Crafts Council (ACC’s), the Smithsonian, Philadelphia, Baltimore. . . An additional responsibility was to organize, ferry, and install three annual SOFA (Show of Functional Art) shows in Chicago and one SOFA in Miami.
Thomsen LTD, Atlanta, GA Feb 93 – Aug 94
Furniture & Cabinet Builder
Furniture builder for a high-end commercial interior architectural millwork contractor. Responsibilities included developing cut lists from prints, material truing and cut out, line and construction boring using 32mm system. Works included: Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University in Atlanta, primarily of Swiss Pearwood and designed by Michael Graves, Coca-Cola Corporate headquarters, High Museum of Art by Richard Meier, and a signature line of Shaker style furniture.
Forshner Residence, Dalton, GA Dec 91 – Aug 92
General Contractor
Responsible for design details after the death of the architect James Mount on this design build custom home including fabrication and installation of extensive ornamental iron and sheet metal work on this unique home.
Mark Schweitzer Metal Studios, Atlanta, GA Sept 91 – May 92
Designer/ Fabricator (Full & Part Time)
Designer/ Fabricator of contemporary furniture and architectural accessories. Job tasks included shop drawings, material and subcontractor sourcing, production, machining and welding of prototypes and products.
Education
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS BFA May 91
Baccalaureate degree in an accredited five-year program in Industrial Design.