“Chairs are often seen as seats of knowledge since most education is received while sitting in a classroom”
– Sarah Clark-Langager
The Path To The Bigger Big Chair
The Artist
David Ireland was born in the town of Bellingham, Washington in August 25, 1930. The community consists of agriculture, logging, and fishing but “was not exactly the place to look at art” (Tsujimoto and Gross). However, Ireland took interest in Rudyard Kipling’s poems and novels and that instills him with wanderlust. In addition, he took a few art classes in high school without knowing what future lies ahead of him as an artist. Ireland also agrees how, “our career sneaks up on us and we don’t realize we’re getting educated” (Tsujimoto and Gross)
Ireland continues his studies at Western Washington University from 1948 to 1950 and transferred to California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland (CCAC) due to his interest of art and culture. In 1950, at CCAC, Ireland had “notions of becoming a stage designer [and] was enamored [with] the idea of traveling around the world [with his creation of theater sets and elaborate ballet] due to his mother’s love of theater” (Tsujimoto and Gross).
David Ireland describes his art-making process as a laboratory experience with aesthetic vibes. In 1956, Ireland set off for Europe visiting England, Scotland, and France with his childhood friend Jack Rykken (Tsujimoto and Gross). He enjoyed his travels tremendously, but joined his father’s insurance company to show his appreciation to his parents in late 1958. Ireland lead a traditional lifestyle and married Joanne Westford in 1961 and became a father of two children. Despite his family and business, Ireland makes a risky move to San Francisco to start on an art project in 1965 (Tsujimoto and Gross).
Noticeable Work
David Ireland’s residence, 500 Capp Street, in San Francisco’s Mission District became the centerpiece of his career. For three decades, Ireland embedded with art and eventually evolved his home as “inspiration[al], source of materials, and repository for some of his most important work of the 1980s and 1990s” (The 500 Capp Foundation). Ireland purchased a decaying Italian style house and remodel it as his new studio. During the process of redesigning his studio, David Ireland “reached a philosophical point where I realized that the lively presence I was looking for in my art was here on the walls […] Why do we have to fabricate a stricter, a canvas [and] why not just make art out of an environment” (The 500 Capp Foundation). Ireland’s art consists of everyday materials and a touch of his sense of humor for his showcase.
The Bigger Big Chair
Behind The Sculpture
The Bigger Big Chair became Ireland’s last artwork before he passed away due to sickness two years later in 2009. A chair symbolizes education and learning, but when monumental, “it also stands for distinction and authority” (Western Gallery). According to Hafthor Yngvason, the current director of the Western Gallery & Public Art Collection, the sculpture went through multiple of renovations before being placed between Fairhaven College and Buchanan Towers. Hafthor explained how “The installation of the chair was problematic […] David Ireland wanted it be located in front of the university’s library, but due to its massive weight and the underground machinery structures of the main campus, the proposal was rejected.” Which creates a question, where should the location of the sculpture should be?
Details & Features
Bigger Big Chair made and installed in 2007. In 2003, David Ireland received an proposal for a piece (David). The art piece symbolized knowledge and was originally planned to be placed in front of the Wilson Library, but due to its weight of 16000 pounds, the soil there could not support it. Instead, Bigger Big Chair was located above the C-lots near to Fairhaven (Schwartz). Ireland enjoyed the idea of vagueness to his work and blur the line between what is art and what isn’t (David). Sadly, Ireland passed away in 2009, two years after the installation of Bigger Big Chair. David Ireland always had an obsession with over-sized chairs (Alphabet). In a like matter, all of his chairs had similar angles and swooping armrests. The only real difference was the material the sculptures were made out of. Ireland used either metal or cement to construct his enormous throne-like chairs.
The Present State
The Bigger Big Chair now stands 8-foot tall and 12-foot long at the edge of Western Washington University campus. A way to encounter the 16000-pound sculpture is by traveling through a trail near the Buchanan Towers or from the sidewalk next to the C-lot parking lot, at the bottom of the hill. Despite the isolated location, David Ireland would not “be happy with where the chair is right now” (Yngvason). Rumors rise about relocating Bigger Big Chair in front of the Western Gallery, instead of its current position. But there have not been any final words yet. In the end, the Bigger Big Chair finally received its spotlight for the very first time within a decade. Bigger Big Chair has aged since its installation, it has scratches and some minor graffiti on it, it is in need of a new paint job to restore it to its original majestic beauty.
Credits
Writing & Research
Cuong Truong
Dylan Aaron
Jennifer Ha
Cinematography
Cuong Truong
Dylan Aaron
Photography
Cuong Truong
Dylan Aaron
Jennifer Ha
Video Editing
Cuong Truong
Website Editing
Cuong Truong
Music
Boogie Belgique – Forever and Ever
Sources
Alphabet, By. “Ireland, David – The-artists.org.”
Theartistsorg Ireland David Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.
“David Ireland – 34 Artworks, Bio & Shows on Artsy.”
David Ireland – 34 Artworks, Bio & Shows on Artsy. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.
Schwartz, Jeremy. “Artist Completes Newest Sculpture.” The Western Front. N.p.,
28 Sept. 2007.
Web. 10 Oct. 2016. http://www.westernfrontonline.net/news/article_1802c3eb-de68-56c0-ba5a-e944c8362926.html
Tedford, By Matthew Harrison.
“500 Capp Street: David Ireland’s House | Art Practical.”
Art Practical. Art Practical, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2016.
The 500 Capp Foundation. “David + His House at 500 Capp Street.” 500 Capp Street.
Foundation, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2016. http://500cappstreet.org/david-500-capp-street house.
Tsujimoto, Karen, and Jennifer R. Gross. The Art of David Ireland: The Way Things Are.
Oakland, CA: Oakland Museum of California, 2003. Print.
Western Gallery. Sculpture: University Public Art Collection. Bellingham. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
Yngvason, Hafthor. “David Ireland and The Bigger Big Chair.” Personal interview.
28 Sept. 2016.
Leave a Reply