A snapshot of Helena Garzotto’s “Reshaping Raw Materials”
The Rewind Review Respond (RRR) series is a student-led publication at CCA featuring reviews and reflections on recent events. Entirely written and edited by students, this series uplifts their voices and perspectives.
Helena Garzotto, a senior in the BFA Furniture program, received the 2025 Ronald & Anita Wornick Award for excellence in wood arts. To celebrate the honor, more than a dozen of her furniture pieces were exhibited at the CCA Campus Gallery. Garzotto’s experimental work highlights how raw materials—wood, metal, and fabric—can be reshaped and repurposed for communal use. Her pieces emphasize process, transformation, and the relationship between material and function.
Kraft Bench (2025)
aluminum, walnut, white oak, 55 x 18 x 23 in.
A central piece in the exhibition was a trapezoid-shaped bench made from metal and wood. Garzotto described it as “a reflection of process.” Using a hydraulic press, she bent metal to form the structure and molded stacked veneer with aluminum. Rustic clamps holding white-oak-colored wooden blocks added an industrial, historical feel while suggesting both tension and rest. Notably, visitors witnessed Garzotto finishing the piece moments before the opening reception, reinforcing the importance of process in her work.
The exhibition features several inventive works that explore unexpected ways of shaping and combining materials. Through experimental techniques and thoughtful design choices, Garzotto transforms familiar forms into sculptural pieces that invite closer attention. Influenced by hands-on craftsmanship and experiences abroad, her work reflects a deep curiosity about how materials can be manipulated and reimagined.
