New Chair with arms c. mid 20th century

Curator: What a fantastic opportunity to reflect on George Nakashima’s "New Chair with Arms," created circa the mid-20th century and now residing at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Its elegance speaks volumes. Editor: It’s singing a very woodwind song to me – calm and beautifully structured. All those vertical wooden rods rising from the seat are like graceful reeds. I can almost hear the gentle breeze whispering through them! Curator: Absolutely, and Nakashima’s approach challenges the hierarchy that typically separates design, craft, and art. Think of the labor involved, the meticulous handcrafting shaping each piece of wood. We're not simply talking about an industrially manufactured object; each chair carries Nakashima’s unique sensibility and investment in material. Editor: He’s coaxing out the very soul of that wood. It’s more than functional. The curves, especially around the seat, are deeply sensuous, aren’t they? Inviting. I find myself almost wanting to hug it rather than just sit in it. Do you feel like Nakashima worked with furniture like it was sculpture? Curator: Without question. We see his dedication not only in selecting wood, but celebrating what’s known as "imperfections". It’s what makes each item completely unique; a singular experience tied to that piece of material, from that specific source, processed with Nakashima’s own labor. We are witness to the story behind material extraction, and labor exploitation. Editor: And each chair contains those stories, becoming an object infused with meaning and, maybe even more surprisingly, filled with emotional life. Like a favorite song—you sit, and instantly something shifts. Even beyond its material story, there’s this deeper current it seems to carry, almost invisible. Curator: His emphasis on material—wood—elevates it beyond pure function, blurring established boundaries. It asks viewers and consumers to pause and consider all of its connections. Editor: Makes you rethink about our throwaway culture, doesn’t it? A reminder to truly see and value the process behind the objects in our everyday lives. This isn't merely about sitting comfortably. It's about living consciously, surrounded by objects crafted with love.