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The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design

Saturday, Oct 17, 2020 — Sunday, Jan 03, 2021


This exhibition, organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville and the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen Ph.D. Foundation, presents a survey of exceptional American chair design from the early 19th century to the present day. The chair is experienced not only as a functional item, but as sculptural in view — the chair as art. Each of the approximately 40 chairs in the exhibition are chosen for their beauty and historical context with important social, economic, political and cultural influences. Selections from the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen Ph.D. Foundation are joined by contemporary designs offering a stylistic journey in furniture with show-stoppers by John Henry Belter, George Hunzinger, Herter Brothers, Stickley Brothers, Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi and Frank Gehry among others.

“The Art of Seating” is organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville, in collaboration with the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen Ph.D. Foundation and is toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, D.C.

Virtual Lecture: Diane Jacobsen, “The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design" from Georgia Museum of Art on Vimeo.

  • Georgia Museum of Art
    Designed and manufactured by Vivian Beer (b. 1977), Penland, North Carolina, “Current,” 2004. Photo by Douglas J. Eng.
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  • Georgia Museum of Art
    Designed by David Wolcott Kendall (1851-1910); manufactured by Phoenix Furniture Company (founded 1870, Grand Rapids, Michigan), “McKinley” Arm Chair, ca. 1894–96. Photo by Michael Koryta and Andrew VanStyn, Director of Acquisitions, Conservation and Photography.
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  • Georgia Museum of Art
    Designed by Thomas E. Warren (active with American Chair Co., 1849–52); manufactured by the American Chair Co. (1829-1858, Troy, New York), centripetal spring arm chair, ca. 1850. Photo by Michael Koryta and Andrew VanStyn, Director of Acquisitions, Conservation and Photography.
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  • Georgia Museum of Art
    Designed by a Shaker for a community member (New Lebanon, New York), rocking arm chair, ca. 1840. Photo by Michael Koryta and Andrew VanStyn, Director of Acquisitions, Conservation and Photography.
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  • Georgia Museum of Art
    Designed by Warren McArthur Jr. (1885–1961); manufactured by Warren McArthur Corp. (Rome, New York), sling seat lounge chair, ca. 1935. Photo by Michael Koryta and Andrew VanStyn, Director of Acquisitions, Conservation and Photography.
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  • Georgia Museum of Art
    Designed by Frank Gehry (b. 1929); manufactured by Easy Edges, Inc. (active 1969-73, Los Angeles, California), high stool, 1971. Photo by Michael Koryta and Andrew VanStyn, Director of Acquisitions, Conservation and Photography.
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  • Georgia Museum of Art
    Unidentified designer, attributed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, fancy side chair, ca. 1820. Photo by Michael Koryta and Andrew VanStyn, Director of Acquisitions, Conservation and Photography.
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Curator

Ben Thompson, curator, Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville

Sponsors

Georgia Council for the Arts, the W. Newton Morris Charitable Foundation and the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art

Press Releases

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Discover the art of chairs at the Georgia Museum of Art

Fri, Oct 09, 2020