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Salish Spindle Whorl Chair finished
December 20, 2008
About the chairs: Art on Art on Art – A Tribute to Creativity
Each functional, comfortable 29 x 29 x 29 inch replica of ancient Art or artifact re-utilizes vintage plastic lawn chairs that were considered Art during the 1960’s. The original structures, damaged or unusable were refurbished by a process of weaving canvas strips along with white glue paper-mache style over the entire plastic top and bottom, and multiple layers of drywall compound sanded in between coats. Designs are drawn with graphite, painted with acrylics and a few coats of varnish for durability, then waxed to finish and enrich the colors. Two more Solaire chairs and other styles of chairs are in various stages of completion yet to be embellished with historic Art themes from other cultures. Other styles of chairs are also in progress.
The skeletal structure of these chairs, called Solaire chairs, were manufactured during the 1960s and 1980s. Art in their own day, these particular ones were unusable; in poor condition they were bound for the landfill sight. Originals designed by Fabiano and Panzini, a French Canadian team, the Solaire chairs are now collectors items, some selling for $500.
The first chair to be up-cycled was a large replica of a Mayan bowl. The Mayan culture (Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and parts of Honduras, 900 B.C. – 900 A.D. Common Era) developed a very complex written language using pictographs. Many of these were facial expressions and hand gestures. The bowl displays the birth of the Maize God, and along the top edge the name of the bowl’s owner is written, as well as possibly what it was used for.
Salish Carved Wood Whorl
Whorls are weights that stabilize used for spinning yarn. The yarn in this case would have been wound just above the whorl. Spinning yarn and weaving fabric are some of humankind’s oldest technology. Left: example of a spindle with whorl, Eve Spinning Illuminated Manuscript c. 1170 A.D.
Historically everywhere wood has been used for tools, utensils and everyday items, they were often carved. The original spindle whorl that was the inspiration for this chair was used by a Salish Northwest Pacific coast community living south and east of Vancouver Island. Here a central human figure holds two otters. A Kwakiutl (also living in Vancouver Island territory) prayer to a Cedar tree prayer was very much a part of the inspiration for this chair. It reads: “Look at me friend! I come to ask you for your dress, since there is nothing you cannot be used for. I come to beg you for this, Long-life maker”.
December 18th: Finishing details, further definition with acrylics and two coats of varnish, waxed. Decided against the decoupage of the Kwakiutl prayer to a Cedar tree because it does not look as good as hoped. December 16th: Carved the plaster in areas then inlaying purple for contrast rather than black. Purple glazes also make yellows much richer.
The back and under-side of the chair is painted to look carved. The undercoat of yellows shines through succeeding layers, and carved wood textures are created with varnish leaving raised brushstrokes, and am trying whatever else I can think of to make it look like wood! More modeling with plaster and light sanding, then redrawing with graphite, and the design is continually adjusted.
Categories: 3D, Art for sale, Canada, design, experimental, furniture, history/multicultural theme, innovation, mixed media, series, The Chairs series, The Majesty of Trees Collection | 4 Comments »
4 Responses to “Salish Spindle Whorl Chair finished”
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December 17th, 2008 at 11:06
Good idea Nikki.It’s going to look fantastic. Watch those exacto blades. To much pressure and the tip will break and fly. I always used a heavier knife to do work like this.
December 18th, 2008 at 11:06
Thanks for the advice Dad, I have been thinking about you while carving. I went lightly also careful not to chip the plaster which has set for about 6 months, so it worked fine. An example of your work, a headboard, is on the http://www.majestyoftrees.com front page.
January 1st, 2009 at 11:06
Awesome Nikki! Love the wood effect — very realistic, warm and rich patina. Some version of these as wall art would probably be very popular,too. What’s the next one going to be of?
January 1st, 2009 at 11:06
Karen, hi and thanks. Well it’s kind of like the game ‘musical chairs’ – not enough of these Solaire chairs left and too many ideas! One will definitely be of fossils and the other either Australian Maori/Aboriginal or Moche, an ancient Peruvian culture. Would love to do African themes, Celtic, Mid-East and Oriental as well.