// Stools as Portraits //

2016

a stool to weed the garden and drink tea on a saturday morning

Douglas fir

11" x 1'

a stool to learn to play guitar on the front porch

Maple

18" x 1'

a stool to write poetry at the table below the window

Cedar

16" x 1'

a stool to grow into

Cherry

9" x 10"

a stool to watch a farm grow

Poplar

21" x 1'

a stool to eat lunch in the hayloft while watching the horses

Alder

36" x 1'

A three-legged stool works as a study of function because its use extends far beyond simply sitting on it. I wanted to take a highly versatile piece of furniture and narrow its function down to one that is highly specific.

I made each stool for use by a specific person for a specific purpose. Each stool is made in proportion to the user and the use. The shortest stool is for a very tall person to drink tea and weed the garden. The tallest stool is for a very short person to sit on a deck, eat lunch, and watch horses graze.

The wood, the shape of the legs, the texture, and the finish I chose for each stool all aim to describe something about each user.  I’ve known some of the people the stools are intended for a long time, some are family. Others I’ve only recently met. By making each stool a portrait of its owner, I’ve learned something new about each person.

Email: lydia.vadopalas@gmail.com