Take Space, Make a Chair!
At “Available Items”
Tivoli, New York
At “Available Items”
Tivoli, New York
A chair is a norm, a convention. In the workshop, neurodivergent participants were invited to “break it, turn it around, take up space”. All participants made very personal artifacts that were embodiments of their realities and of their relationships with the world. The chair serves the needs of the individual so well.
Rebecca made the most conceptual yet the most practical piece -- a standing chair. Rebecca has MS. She needs a chair to stand more than to sit. By providing support at arm height or at shoulder height, the piece allows her to stand longer and be fully engaged in a conversation or what is happening around… to “take space”. The piece can be folded flat and easily carried around. Needless to say, it is an unconventional chair. While looking very sculptural, it is totally functional and serves the needs Rebecca’s so well.
Other participants explored unusual designs, like the one by Lisa. Her piece resembles a chair and yet features a big surprise element: the flexible armrests made with an oversize wire coil. The chair is an embrace, a space that can be close or open. It is a perfect instrument to connect to the open world or to take some distance.
Photography by unblock.space