Jon Brooks
“Styx” Ladder-Back Chair, 1986

“The “Styx” ladder-back chair honors the traditional ladder-back design, inspired by the simple and minimalistic chairs made by Shaker communities. It is a minimalist composition of wood and sticks arranged into intersecting lines, creating a wobbly structure. Jon Brooks’ daily interactions with the forest have a strong impact on his art. He spends time each morning on his property foraging, creating trails, wandering, and meditating. The bending and undulating tree forms he encounters during these walks inspire his imagination, providing suggestions for new pieces. In Brooks’ words, “are loaded with suggestion. It’s the conception of each new piece.”