| Current Exhibition |
The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design
Saturday February 04, 2012 - Sunday April 08, 2012
Free w/ admission
Designed by Warren McArthur Jr. (1885-1961) Manufactured by Warren McArthur Corp., Rome, NYSling Seat Lounge Chair, c. 1935. Photo by Michael Koryta and Andrew VanStyn, Director of Acquisitions, Conservation and Photography |
Most chairs encountered throughout the day define themselves fairly simply - a place at the family table, a comfortable spot with a great view of the river, a seat of corporate power. When looking at the 43 chairs selected for The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design, however, there is much more to see than simple pieces of furniture. These works of art have compelling stories to tell about our national history, the evolution of American design and incredible artistry and craftsmanship.
The Art of Seating provides audiences with a unique opportunity to see chair types that usually reside in private homes, withheld from public display. The Jacobsen American Chair Collection, the center of this exhibition, is an amazing and comprehensive private collection of iconic and historic chairs reaching back from the mid-1800s to pieces from today's studio movement. The exhibition provides an opportunity to see readily recognizable pieces alongside those rarely seen by the public with chairs by John Henry Belter, George Hunzinger, the Herter Brothers, the Stickley Brothers, Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Isamu Noguchi, Frank Gehry and others. The exhibition also features contemporary and historic designs by some of the biggest manufacturers such as Knoll, Herman Miller and Steelcase.
Perhaps the most illustrious piece of history in this collection is that of the House of Representatives Chamber Arm Chair from 1857. Designed by Thomas U. Walter, Architect of the Capitol from 1851 to 1865, the House of Representatives chairs were created to be used in the halls of Congress and were showcased in portraits of political leaders such as Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. A later design by David Wolcott Kendall, deemed by his peers as The Dean of American Furniture Design, was presented to William McKinley during his term in the White House and has become known as the "McKinley" arm chair.
The Art of Seating is organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville in collaboration with the Jacobsen Collection of American Art and toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, D.C.
Special thanks to Andrew VanStyn, Director of Acquisitions, Conservation and Photography for the Jacobsen Collection.
Funding for The Art of Seating is provided by The Westmoreland Women's Committee.
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