Arts Agenda - Seats on the edge
Danish chair designers in the spotlight at By Design
In the late 1950s, Danish furniture designer Hans J. Wegner made a name for himself in the States thanks partly to John F. Kennedy, who fancied Wegner’s unique chair design. Wegner’s creation, which came to be called simply “The Chair,” became a symbol for the broader popularity of Danish furniture design, and his crafts still sell today.
A half-century later another Dane found his way to the seat of American political power when Kasper Salto’s “Runner Chair” reportedly became a favorite of Bill Clinton’s.
Chairs by Salto and 13 other Danish designers come to Atlanta this week in Danes on the Move. The collection ranges from supremely innovative (Henriette W. Leth’s “Big Apple” chair looks like a slightly dented rubberband ball) to a few more pedestrian, Pottery Barn-ready examples.
Tending toward a crisp, minimalist and definitely unconventional approach to sedentary support, these Danes aren’t likely to sit well with our current president. More cutting-edge entries like the star-shaped “Stick” or “The Rockable” would most likely just confuse him.
Danes on the Move: Tomorrow’s Seating Design Today will be on display at By Design, 1747 Cheshire Bridge Road, May 12-20. 404-607-9098.??