The Ocean Is Calling. And It Wants You to Buy Art.

The Minneapolis College of Art and Design Art Sale opens tonight. For any readers unacquainted, allow me to explain: It’s a bit of a ruckus. And a rush. “The MCAD sale operates on a highly physical, somewhat terrifying, grab-what-you-can format,” Gregory J. Scott observes for Minnesota Monthly.

Now in its 15th year, the fundraiser/showcase of work by students and recent graduates includes paintings, prints, and photographs, as well as sculpture, furniture, clothing, jewelry, and more. Forgo restraint (and woe to the indecisive); if you like something, you pick it up on the spot. Among this year’s appealing offerings: half of the first run of Shellphones from new Minnesota-based design collective WAAM Industries.

The joint project of Andrew Vomhof and Karl Zinsmaster, WAAM operates on a full-circle philosophy; the idea is to “create and manufacture our own designs with the same integrity and quality with which we designed them,” Vomhof says. He took time to answer our questions about WAAM and its Shellphones, which make clever use of the form’s natural acoustic properties, before the doors open tonight.

You’re both relatively recent MCAD graduates. Speak a little bit about your backgrounds, and what you each bring to your joint work.

I graduated in 2010 with a sculpture degree. Although I graduated in sculpture, I took my elective classes in furniture design and business.  I feel the knowledge I gained from my experiences in art, design, and business is one of my major contributions to our work.

Karl graduated in 2009 with a degree in furniture design and went on to work in furniture production in Brooklyn. He brings a knowledge of fine furniture techniques and materials to our process.

So did you meet at MCAD? When did you decide to collaborate and/or form WAAM Industries?

We met in high school, actually, in 2003, and spent our time (and money earned at part-time jobs) making projects in Karl’s dad’s basement woodshop. So, you could say the collaboration began then.

We collaborated on the Shellphone last February when we were both living in Brooklyn – and the idea for WAAM industries was born. Since then we both relocated back to Minnesota and officially launched this past summer with a line of five products including the Shellphone. We each contributed two other designs. I contributed my design for wooden cinder blocks (Tinderblocks) and my design for a set of wooden milk crates, one square and one long. 

Tell us a bit more about the origin of that first idea, then, the Shellphone.

We were toying around with a conch shell while playing music from one of our phones and stuck the phone in the opening of the shell, and the music was amplified. So we made a few prototypes – testing the placement of the hole and phone – finally landing on the design that you know as the Shellphone.

The final design amplifies the sound as well as sharpens it. It also redirects the sound, and gives an effect that fills a room with sound. In terms of production, the majority of the work is done by hand because every whelk shell is naturally slightly different, making every Shellphone a custom fit.

How many have you made? How many will be at the MCAD Art Sale this weekend?

Our first production was 50 pieces, and we submitted 25 to the Art Sale.

You mentioned WAAM stands for we are always moving. As a design collective, what are your goals? What guides you?

We want to create and manufacture our own designs with the same integrity and quality with which we designed them. We want to be a part of the creative and manufacturing process from the beginning to the end to ensure their quality. Made by us in the U.S. My feeling is: If I wouldn’t buy my own product then why would I want anyone else to have to live with it?

The MCAD Art Sale runs through Saturday, November 17. Julie K. Hanus is American Craft's senior editor.