Royal Canadian Academy of Arts: 2 Chairs  

On Tour from the Agnes Jamieson Gallery in Minden, Ontario

Curated by Laurie Carmount

Wendell Castle, Heidi Earnshaw, Mike Elmitt RCA, Peter Fleming RCA, Michael Grace, Stephen Hogbin RCA, Michael Hosaluk RCA, Gord Peteran RCA, Peter Pierobon RCA, and local artist, Michael Grace. 

First there was an idea – what happens when an everyday item is changed into something known yet utterly different? Then there came another idea – what if one takes a very familiar object, like a chair, something that has been a part of civilization longer than any other furniture: an object that reflects our beliefs, fashions and histories – and does something different with it?

2 Chairs invited leaders within the studio furniture domain: Wendell Castle, Heidi Earnshaw, Mike Elmitt RCA, Peter Fleming RCA, Michael Grace, Stephen Hogbin RCA, Michael Hosaluk RCA, Gord Peteran RCA, Peter Pierobon RCA, and local artist, Michael Grace (Chair of Selkirk College’s Woodworking Program), to ponder these ideas and then produce two chairs – one functional and one conceptual.

Then, behold, a third idea emerged as the artists developed their concepts – did there need to be two physical chairs? What if one chair could be seen as two, while still addressing the art and design comparison?

The chair is one of the most difficult objects to design. It is the ultimate symbol of functionality, an item we can relate to, and as such, is a perfect image to work into a conceptual idea in order to question where art begins and what role conceptual thinking plays in the furniture form. 2 Chairs is an exhibition which will be of interest to anyone who sits and has an opinion of what constitutes a good chair.