Converting junk into vivid masterpieces
Instructional assistant follows true passion
Lisa Bremner
Issue date: 5/24/04 Section: Feature
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Stereoluz keeps him busy when he's not assisting with conversation classes at the Kentfield and Indian Valley campuses or marking grammar exam papers. "Three hundred every two weeks," said Gerfers with a grimace. Still "it pays the bills and keeps my brain active," he said.
But this is just the day job. "I'm an artist first and foremost," he said.
Some of his pieces are small and basic. Others are enormous and complicated. "By reworking [old stereo equipment] into lamps I am attempting to play on a nostalgia for yesterday's vision of the 21st century, without directly resurrecting the designs for use as new stereo equipment," he said. The latter he finds "sad...lack[ing] irony. They have no twist, no cleverness," he said.
Formed a year ago, stereoluz is already expanding into larger premises. "I just laid the floor," he said happily proud of the achievement the expansion symbolises. The original studio was only leased in April 2003 and yet by July of the same year he was already supplying a furniture fare with his work. He's had displays in shows every month since August. Along the way he's even found time to apply for a patent and two trademarks.
His latest success is to convince an ultra-fashionable, interior design store in Los Angeles to display his designs. "At first, on the phone, they blew me off," he said. He persevered. He went down to L.A., went to the store and asked to have a chat. "They took me through into this inner sanctum and the owner was actually there," he said excited at reliving the thrill. "We just hit it off," he said.
It's not difficult to believe that, when he wants to, Gerfers could charm his way through closed doors. With closely-cropped dark hair, a trim goatee and a youthful countenance he is often mistaken for a student around campus. This seems to rankle him slightly. Janitors ignore his requests for rooms to be unlocked for his classes. Members of staff berate him for using the staff car park.