Poma Chair
Materials:
Steel, painted wood, leather, African print fabric
Dimensions:
27? x 31? x 26?
The overall design of the chair is inspired by the geometry of many of the Danish chairs designed in the 50s & 60s. The frame is made of mild steel & patinated. The back-rest is a fiberglass form upholstered with wax print fabric & seat is fiberglass upholstered in distressed leather, arm rests are hand shaped cherry, & legs are hand turned & milk painted cherry wood.
Poma in Ghana’s Twi language, translates to walking stick or staff. This is the inspiration for the front legs featured on this chair. The brightly colored, vividly patterned African wax print fabric was love at first sight & I have used it in my furniture ever since. Often it shows up in discrete places such as a surprise lining the bottom of drawers.
This comfortable lounger is meant to celebrate the cloth unique to Africa. I purchase the cloth from small stalls primarily in Kumasi’s central market in Ghana.
Bio Chris Martin Furniture produces unique one off and small batch production pieces, commission work, and for the marketplace. The inspiration for the work comes from an industrial aesthetic, an admiration of mid century and Danish design, a need to explore materials, and a desire to collaborate with traditional artisans in India, Ghana, and Uganda.
Other prizes 2022 Best Seating, Professional 2022 ISFD INNOVATION + DESIGN 2020 Best Mixed Media Octagonal 2020 Exhibition 2018 Foreign Travel Grant - Iowa State University. To research potential colleborations in Ghana 2016 Fulbright Research Fellowship - Ahmedabad India Based at Design Innovation Craft Resource Center @ CEPT University. Designed & produced a series of furniture pieces in collaboration with traditional artisans. 2015 Juror’s Award 35th Annual Contemporary Crafts MCA Museum, Mesa, AZ 2014 Second Place 21st Annual Juried Show: Cabinets of Curiosity The Wharton Esherick Museum, Paoli, PA First Place 45th Annual Octagon Exhibition 2013 Juror’s Award 34th Annual Contemporary Crafts MCA Museum, Mesa, AZ Foreign Research Grant - ISU Design Education & Research in Ghana development of a study abroad program in Ghana. Foreign Travel Grant, ISU For travel to Ghana to do design research CEAH Grant - Center for the Excellence in Art & Humanities, ISU Used to produce a series of “stools” based on the Asante chieftaincy stools Miller Grant – (Co-PI) Used to explore ways to integrate digital technologies in my creative work. 2012 Foreign Travel Grant, ISU For travel to Ahmedabad, India to take part in the House of MG Design Residency. Iowa Arts Council Major Grant For production of a body of work inspired by my Peace Corps experiences.
