Kale Vogt
Sept. 17, 2024
Today marks my first day back to work after a long weekend spent in Vermont. I’m fortunate to have a cousin that lives in the The Green Mountain State who also loves to host.
When introducing me to The Chairmaker’s Toolbox scholarship class, Chris jokingly mentioned that I’m most likely “in a better mental space than most” having just returned from my Vermont vacation.
Not to boast, but I agree.
“Vermont time” moves at a slower pace than Northern Kentucky time. I promptly fell into the rhythm of slow morning walks and hours spent lakeside. Mentally, I had room to wander.
I thought about simple things like, where we would be eating next and if we’d find time to feed apples to the highland cows down the street (sadly, we didn’t). I’d wonder what Wade, my cousin’s dog, is doing back home without us, and when we’d begin the bonfire later.
Though, given all the space for my mind to roam, I soon circled back to a familiar topic: chairs.
Or more specifically, my next apprenticeship chair and the direction I wish to go in. In truth, until recently I hadn’t been called to particular form. Since I’ve been riding the high from finishing my most recent prototype, my thoughts about my next chair have been scattered at best.
It figures; all I needed was to stand in a lake for three hours in order for my mind to focus.
As stated in my Apprenticeship Agreement, my second chair is to be built from Chris’s plans, yet I have the freedom to decide which. Following my return home, I’ve narrowed my form choices to two.
The first (in no particular order) is a design of Chris’s I’ve yet to see him build: a four-stick comb-back chair with lots of flair. Nearly a year ago, when building my first chair with Chris last November, I remember coming across this design on Lost Art Press’s social media page. I was immediately drawn to it’s drama and simple form. I’ve been wanting to create my own since I discovered it.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Anarchist's Apprentice to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.