Joe Ihns

Since the early 90's, my work has involved the creation of utilitarian, functional objects and furniture. My work is reconstructive of the ‘American Dream', as pieces are created one at a time using time-tested techniques and built out of familiar and often indigenous hardwoods. My work addresses a basic component of society, the desire to have items that are both beautiful and functional, that make a statement about the owners, and hold an inherent staying power that allows pieces to be handed down from generation to generation. The two chairs illustrated here are a ‘pair-of-a-kind' from late 2006. Made with mortise-andtenon and bent laminate construction, their chief materials are Brazilian cherry, hard maple, and spaulted maple for the splats. High quality upholstery is also used. Using a ladder-back design, the back legs form a long, continuous arch, distinguished by two thin color lines. These lines are contrasted by the organic irregular lines in the splats, creating visual and physical textures. These features combine to produce a pleasing as well as comfortable place to sit, for now and the future.