You might think that these stone chairs and tables would provide a peaceful setting for a relaxing picnic after a visit to appreciate the classic masterpieces in the Detroit Institute of Arts. They do not serve that purpose. I tried to use this sculpture for a pleasant picnic. There were no ants, but it was an extremely short picnic because the chairs are uncomfortable and the tables do not fit with the chairs. This is a work of art!
Richard Nonas was only 31 when he used Swedish granite to produce this work. He was trained as an anthropologist, but quickly turned to sculpture. He produced large geometric pieces using stone, steel or wood—pieces that remain on the ground or floor rather than on a pedestal. You will notice that the drill holes used by the Swedish craftsmen to extract these stones from the quarry are clearly visible. I wonder if Richard Nonas deliberately selected these stones and crafted them into chairs and tables with the obvious drill holes incorporated as part of his design? There are four low tables here and four chairs.
Sculptor: Richard Nonas
Material: Swedish Granite
Date of Creation: 1997|
Use in 2011: Public Sculpture in an attractive sculpture garden
Information about the sculptor: http://www.lawrencemarkey.com/nonas_b.htm
For more information: Art in Detroit Public Places, Revised Edition. By Dennis Alan Nawrocki and David Clements; Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1999
Photograph: Ren Farley, May 21, 2011
Date description was updated: May, 2011