Some time ago I happened across this designer, Kelee Katilac (you would think Kelly Cadillac, but no) (http://www.keleekatillac.com/).
I read an article about her and how she got into her business. I was interested because I heard about her first book, House of Beliefs. It sounded interesting, and when I heard this story of hers, I knew she was a like minded individual.
She said that she was going through a time in her life when she wasn’t sure what to do and she didn’t have a lot in the way of resources…was out walking, and happened upon this old broken down chair. She said that she felt just like that chair, tossed to the side of the road…so she took the chair home and decided to fix it up…she poured her heart and soul into that chair, and when she was done, well she felt much better.
This just made sense to me…
Actually, I seem to recall the day that I read it was a hard, tired sort of day and her story made me cry. I think we all have a moment or two where we feel like a broken chair left on the roadside.
The idea of the power and joy that comes from the creative process and just pouring yourself into fixing and making beauty…I like that.
The other day I was clearing clutter in my office and I spied my grandma’s chair that she made from a tin can. She made many of these I think…she made so many different things…but this chair, I think this chair is Grandma…the beauty of her spirit and the nature of her hopes and dreams shining through.
Now, Grandma had an even dozen in her crew…I can’t imagine fancy furniture like this would have lasted long or been practical in any way. I love to think of her making them though…steady hands turning this way and snipping and tucking just so.
While I am very creative, I’m not certain I was meant to make furniture.
I like the idea of what chair might be me though…
I started to think it through here, and it began to sound like I was speaking in code, so I’ll let that go, but I wonder…if YOU were a chair…what chair would YOU be?