David Ireland, born and raised in Bellingham, Washington, and attended Western Washington University (1948-50). David Ireland is considered one of the most influential Bay Area artists working in the genres of conceptual and environmental art. Ireland is most well known for creating site-specific installation art pieces; Moving between two and three dimensions within the same sculptures, Ireland explores concepts of scale and vision. Known for his wide range of materials, works are made from paint cans, phone books, metal, cement, wood and, even the skull of a water buffalo. Ireland does not make hard fast statements or try to prove a theory. He prefers to pose questions, such as: how can art function? Here, the answer is in the fact that he designates a functional object as art; makes the “club chair” on the edge between abstraction and representation; and changes our experience by enlarging its scale. Generally, a chair is considered the seat of learning and a symbol of aspirations; when monumental, it also stands for distinction and authority. If Ireland’s chair is experienced as micro-architecture, then it can represent the building of teachers and the liberal arts. Or, because it is monumental, does it refer to a type of education of the past? Or, is it a sign of the times that we should give more attention to a type of education in a highly specialized world?
About the Sculpture:
One of David Ireland’s sculptures is located at Western Washington University called
Bigger Big Chair (2004-2007). This sculpture is 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide and looks like a giant chair. We had the opportunity to focus on this piece of artwork by taking note of how this sculpture is looked upon on a day to day basis by Western students that walk by it on their way to class. Our intention is to capture the view from the sculpture as if one were sitting in this chair looking out. To do so we recorded a time-lapse within an hours time from the seat of the chair. During which we observed the movements and the surroundings to look at the interactions of people and with nature.
Credits:
Admin/Video Director- Graciela Gomez
Researcher/Videographer- Ashleigh Johnson
Researcher/Videographer- Makenna Marks
Bibliography:
Cicinelli, Eliza. “The artist David Ireland at home.” San Francisco Magazine, 24
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