The chair has long transformed from a functional piece of furniture to a symbol of dignity that is still used as the emblem of authority. Given the rich history of the chair and the ubiquity of the form, the Seattle Design Center and Pratt Fine Arts Center, two icons of Seattle design, launched a project to pair the creativity of designers and artists to design today's chair.

For The Chair Projects, designers were paired with artists and each team was given the bones of a chair by Chicago furniture maker, Baker and the task to morph it into their own. The chairs will be on display throughout Seattle until they're auctioned off in August.

“The idea for the chair project started by wondering how to create a partnership between the worlds of art and design [...] using an iconic furniture item, like a chair, as the foundation for a shared project.” said Craig Cross, marketing manager of Seattle Design Center.

Ballard artist Tom DeGroot paired with designer Gretchen Evans at his studio at Salty Dog Studios in Ballard to create a chair titled "She fancied herself a refined but dangerous raconteuse".

DeGroot had never worked with furniture but was approached by Pratt Fine Arts to be involved.

"My first impression of the [provided] chair was how simple and direct the legs were in relation to the mass and flourishes of the seat, back and arms which they supported," he said. "That contrast implied a kind of power differential.It would be a seat that exuded a malevolent power, but was supported by dainty legs which made it seem somehow even more monstrous." 

Designer Gretchen Evans agreed with DeGroot's impression and they moved forward with the concept.

The chair, displayed at Nordstroms, is an extravagant piece of art ornamented with bright pink fabric, metal scraps and eclectic items like a drill bit, scissors and a saw.

"As a result of our collaboration, the piece is richer and more complex than what I would have produced on my own, while preserving the original concept," DeGroot said.

"The highest compliment we received was from Gretchen’s young daughter when she called it the “scary chair”."

Titled "Menagerie", the chair by Ballard artist Piper O'Neill and JPC Architects on the other hand has a more traditional look.

Handblown glass elements and cast bronze birds adorn the chair which stands on and in front of an elaborate drawing of stylized flowers.

"The theme of the installation was a chair in a space between heaven and below ground," said O'Neill whose studio is at Building C in Ballard.

"The drawing starts in the stars and ends in the roots of the stylized flowers.The chair is in the middle, somewhere in between the two planes."

O'Neill said with the installation and bronze birds she was able to incorporate her interests in drawing and sculpture.

The chairs are currently on display at the Nordstrom flagship store in downtown Seattle at 500 Pine Street.

To learn more about Seattle Design Center, visit www.seattledesigncenter.com.
For Pratt Fine Arts Center, go to www.pratt.org.