“Touch” is something we constantly discuss at Chipstone. The Chipstone Foundation focuses on the decorative arts, and although many of our objects are currently displayed on pedestals and cases because of their aesthetic and historic significance, they were originally created to be used. Chairs were sat upon. Tables had plates and teacups set on them, which in turn were used to eat.
It made us wonder: what do you lose when you can only look at an object? Can you understand a carver’s full mastery without touching the object’s curves? Can you tell what objects allowed their owners and guests to get close? Can you tell whether a chair is comfortable or uncomfortable without sitting in it? What about the way it would position your body, and what that said about your role in the household? It seemed to us that with the decorative arts, most of the time just looking does not provide a full and rewarding experience.
Our temporary exhibition, Green Furniture, was another opportunity to explore the value of touch. The show featured works made by contemporary artists working within the Green movement. As we were planning the show, we realized that it would cost almost the same amount to pay shipping and loan fees for the exhibition’s objects as it would to buy the furniture. We opted to buy the furniture, and allowed visitors to touch, sit and fully experience all of the artworks. We heard from visitors that being able to use the objects helped them better understand them, making the exhibition more accessible. As I discussed this with curators from other institutions, their first reaction was to ask: “Didn’t the objects get damaged? Didn’t visitors then believe they could touch anything else in the museum?”. I was happy to report that no, they didn’t. When given the opportunity to touch, the visitors were respectful and careful, while instinctively understanding that being allowed to sit in a Mud Chair did not mean that they could then go run through the Cornelia Parker installation upstairs.
Although Green Furniture is no longer on view, we hope to see you sitting down in our Chair Park and look forward to hearing your thoughts on the different chairs!

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[…] A Fold of Chairs -by Jess June & Knight Quinn Photo by Claudia Mooney: “View of the Chair Park, on the Lower Level of the Milwaukee Art Museum“ […]