Side Chair c. 1937

Editor: So here we have "Side Chair", a drawing from around 1937 by Charles Squires. It’s all pencil on paper, depicting the architectural plans for the chair. There's something almost soothing in its technicality. It makes me wonder... what story do you think this drawing is trying to tell, beyond just chair specifications? Curator: Ah, well, blueprints are poems in disguise, don’t you think? Each line a verse, each measurement a metaphor. Here, Squires gives us more than just a chair; he offers us a glimpse into the aspirations of an era. Notice the confident lines, the subtle flourishes. This chair wasn't meant to be just sat upon. Editor: So, is it about utility meeting aspiration? Curator: Precisely. It is about dreaming big. Squires takes a common, everyday item, and imbues it with a sense of grandness. Imagine the woodworker pouring over this design, bringing Squires’s vision to life. To me, this piece asks, "What dreams will you build today?" Editor: That’s really beautifully put, and offers me a different way of looking at something seemingly simple and utilitarian. Curator: Absolutely, that's where its charm and wonder reside. Editor: Thank you; I now appreciate there's more going on here than meets the eye!