Johnny Chair
JMA renovated a hotel on 57th Street in New York City between Park Avenue and Lexington originally built for female artists, intellectuals, and executives seeking an alternative to traditional women’s boarding houses in the flapper era by Mr. Blum, an Upper East Side fashion designer.
The design of the Frankie and Johnny wingback, or "ear" chairs, was inspired by the blues ballad Frankie and Johnny which was popular when Mr. Blum's building was first built in the 1920s. The tune has been covered by Leadbelly, Pete Seeger, Johnny Cash, Burl Ives, and Taj Mahal – to name a few.
The chairs orbited a lobby fireplace. "Wingback" or “ear chairs” were originally designed to collect the heat generated by the fireplace for its occupant.
PROCESS + MATERIALS
The artist hand-carved the forms using mixed media. The forms were then molded and cast in Kevlar and glass-reinforced, integrally colored, non-combustible chocolate-colored resin. They were then upholstered in leather. All work was performed within 3 miles of the artist's studio in Chicago.
DIMENSIONS
H 43 in. x W 36 in. x D 28 in.
H 109.22 cm x W 91.44 cm x D 71.12 cm
DATE OF DESIGN/MANUFACTURE
2007/2018
VARIATIONS
Please inquire for current options currently available
CREDITS
Photos with asphalt and loft backgrounds were created by John Stewart Clark.
Eliza Mozer is responsible for the photo at the Oak Street Gallery in Chicago.
Doug Snower took the photos of Hotel 57.
The drawings were prepared by the artist as studies for the seating.
Other Mozer Seating
