Lauren Corn

Lauren Corn

Port Angeles, WA

Kenyon Class of ’15, Studio Art major, History minor, and a concentration in the Integrated Program of Humane Studies 

I want to be like my chairs.

Admittedly, this sounds weird, and bizarre. Obviously I cannot be a physical chair; I do not have the patience or the quadricep strength for that. However, chairs speak to this particular expressive moment in my life. Similar to my previous art these chairs are emotional, yet they represent much more.  Although there are hints of emotions in each chair the emotions are no longer the purpose of the sculpture. 

I have been struggling with finding direction after I graduate in the spring because I do not know what I want to be. But, maybe not knowing is okay because I am beginning to understand who I want to become. The creation of chairs has become a part of my process of discovering this person. 

This past summer I worked in a construction company that was rebuilding homes in an area ravaged by floods. There I gained an appreciation for what my building skills could offer others. I build my chairs to rebuild myself into someone who can endure and support.

 There is something to be said about functional art; something that most contemporary art does not speak to anymore. My chairs should be beautiful both physically and though thoughtful design, because beauty is always more than appearance. The natural wood and manufactured steel work in juxtaposition to enhance the natural qualities of the other.

 Chairs, by nature, are static and strong. However my style of art is full of movement. I designed my chairs to wriggle, bounce and twist with sculptural movement, while maintaining soundness. These movements instill energy into each sitting piece clashing with the stationary nature of a chair. This contrast between movement and stillness echoes life because life embraces these seemingly contrary ideas.

 My chairs encapsulate both art and practicality. The combination of these traits creates elasticity between ideas and functionality that are necessary for any sort of communication and innovation. This cohesion of practicality and creativity is something that I strive to be proficient in because this cohesion, to me, is beauty. I still do not know what my post-Kenyon College life will look. However, I hope that whatever career(s) I pursue will have a similar relationship between practicality and creativity.

 I encourage you to sit in these chairs. However these chairs were constructed in reference to my 5’2’’ size, therefore please sit with care.

–Lauren Corn, ‘15