THE OHIO CRAFT MUSEUM Presents:

The Texas Chair Project by Damian Priour and Artful Chairs
February 6–March 27, 2011

(Columbus, Ohio)—Chairs—functional, conceptual, miniature and full size—will be the focus of two upcoming exhibitions at the Ohio Craft Museum. Presented February 6–March 27, 2011, “The Texas Chair Project by Damian Priour” features miniature chairs in all mediums by 80 artists. Coordinated by Texas artist Damian Priour, the project’s only requirement was that each chair fit inside an 8x8x8-inch box. Priour “initiated a ‘call and response,’ by which participants in this game applied their imaginations to revise, re-envision, and even re-invent the chair as we know it,” notes Dana Friis-Hansen, The Dr. and Mrs. Ernest C. Butler Executive Director of the Austin Museum of Art, in the accompanying catalog.

“In some works, the formal and structural inventiveness—stretching the basic concept of four legs, a back and arms in all directions—attracts all the attention, while others morph from a chair into a cat, the moon and the sun, or an orchid, all while still remaining seating. In other works, there is an emotional narrative….Other artists found inventive ways to fit a larger object into that small box by breaking, folding or grinding up the original into sawdust.”

Shown at the same time is “Artful Chairs,” an exhibition of full-size chair forms by six Midwest artists—Michael Bendele, Robert Gartzka and Kathie Johnson, Chris Lang, Stephen Litchfield, and Tom Loeser.
Litchfield creates funky, altered furniture, while Chris Lang makes felted chair forms, and Tom Loeser uses wood to fabricate functional chairs and benches. “When designing a new piece, I like to work from the history of furniture,” Loeser commented. “I look at how objects are used, and then try to invent new visual forms that turn the historical approach to function inside out or upside down or backward.” Both exhibitions open on Sunday, February 6, with a reception from 1 to 4 p.m. “Valentine’s Day Heart-Shaped Boxes,” a Hand in Hand parent/child workshop, will also be held during the opening at the museum. From 1 to 3 p.m., children and their favorite adult will use recycled items and other collage materials to create a heart-shaped box in the style of Mexican retablo art. The workshop is offered free of charge with support from Arlington Bank. Pre-registration is required. Telephone (614) 486-4402.

“Beaded Jewelry 101,” a CraftView Afternoon will be offered for adults and teens on Sunday, March 6. Participants will work with Columbus bead artist Lisa Hallenbeck to learn basic bead-stringing and jewelry techniques while making a bracelet and earrings. Fee: members, $10; nonmembers, $12. Pre-registration is required. Telephone (614) 486-4402.

The Ohio Craft Museum receives ongoing funding from the Ohio Arts Council, the Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Columbus Foundation. The museum is located at 1665 West Fifth Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43212. Hours are Monday–Friday, 10 A.M.–5 P.M.; and Saturday–Sunday, 1–4 P.M., during exhibitions only. Admission and parking are free. For further information, telephone (614) 486-4402; or see our website at www.ohiocraft.org.