Sculptural Chairs Artist Statement
My decision to use sculpture for this project came naturally to me because of my experiences with art in classes and other art that I have seen. Sculpture class is where I first developed my understanding of how to use abstract shapes and forms to convey my thoughts and ideas. Along with this came my introduction to using wood, which became my preferred material to capture these shapes. While other mediums like printmaking served as a vehicle to experiment with shapes and patterns, sculpture gave me the ability to expand from the two dimensional constraint of paper.
My interest in combining furniture and sculpture came from visiting the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian, which was my first exposure to furniture as fine art. The beautiful and artfully designed furniture by Albert Paley and Wendell Castle within the Renwick inspired me to pursue furniture sculpture. The connection between furniture design and the way that people interact with each other and their environment around them allows me to explore these interactions by combining sculpture and furniture. By restricting my focus to only chairs I can use the chair form as a symbol for a sense of place and from their utility they serve as a universal sign of comfort and rest. In a quote from the artist Scott Radke, “... when I combined the two together it just felt right like the right place to be.” My sculptures are stronger when their form adds to their meaning, and by including abstract biomorphic nature shapes in my chairs I can investigate the connections that people have with their environments both inside and outdoors.
Scott Radke’s artwork focuses on nature, his own imagination, and the creative process as self-expression, which are things that I try to convey in my own work. Making art makes me feel alive, so I want my sculptures to feel alive as well. In an interview Radke once said “I don’t believe in having to be in pain or be depressed to create--I don’t believe anyone can really work under that condition. It’s when I’m at peace with myself that I’m most inspired.”
When I create these shapes that are animated and organic I am able to make the connection between my sculptures and nature, and use these representations of growth to communicate my own feelings about art. My chair forms make use of shapes that reach and branch like trees and bend and curve like leaves. I start by layering pieces of pine together and then carving out smooth, curved shapes. Pine is a natural and sturdy material that allows me a lot of freedom in construction because it is soft enough to easily manipulate while maintaining structural stability and continuing the connection with nature. The sculptures by the artist Martin Puryear provided me with inspiration for my use of materials. Puryear uses wood with a natural surface treatment and visually simple construction to make bold sculptural forms that highlight the natural qualities of the material.
Wendell Castle uses wood to make furniture that has been very influential to me for this body of work as well. With shapes that are inventive, imaginative and lively he distorts and deforms shapes until they are fresh, innovative, exciting and inspiring. Castle is concerned with the relationship that humans have with the spaces they inhabit and wants his viewers to engage with his works.
My chairs are successful when they are also interesting and engaging sculptures for the viewers. I want my sculptures to inspire images of life and growth with shapes that reference nature. By applying a sculptural process to making chairs I am able to use sculpture to create a connection between furniture and nature as a way to explore the manmade environment that people have created around themselves.