Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: Katherine Kenner A group of six students created the Peluche chair from cardboard currently showing in the design gallery in Mariposa Hall. [Click to enlarge]

Who knew cardboard could be used in more ways than boxes?

For Sacramento State students, cardboard was the main ingredient that went into "The Chair Show," a collection of artistic chairs made out of cardboard that is on display in Mariposa Hall through Nov. 19.

Creative, unique design wasn't the only factor challenging Sac State interior design students who participated in constructing the full-sized chairs. The students had to think about structure and durability. The 24 chairs came with their own name along with miniature prototypes students began with.

The chairs were created by 74 interior design students and had to be able to withstand the weight of an adult, as well as be somewhat comfortable.

Some of the chairs came with a brief description of how the student came up with the design and created the chair. One of the chairs, "peluche," the Spanish word for a stuffed animal, was named for its very animal-like qualities with the cardboard being manipulated to a furry texture.

Lindsey Kaseman, a senior interior design and communications major, said she put a lot of work into the project.

Her inspiration for the design came to her as she flipped through her interior design textbook. Kaseman held up a miniature, cardboard book, which detailed her chair's model. Her task was to recreate the miniature to a full- sized scale.

Kaseman said she worked on her chair throughout the day and has spent a lot of time on it.

"I'm looking forward to getting sleep again," Kaseman said.

Professor of Interior Design Andrew Anker said this project has sparked a lot of positive media attention.

"I think people can sense that the project is very fun and imaginative," he said.

A fun experience isn't the only thing Anker said he hopes students gain from this project. Anker said the purpose of the project was to expose students to creating something that was both useful and artistic. He said he credits all the ideas for the chairs to his students and said it has been interesting to see what they have come up with.

"We wanted them to build something real, that actually functioned and had a purpose. We wanted them to be able to work with different materials and (understand) how those materials would influence the structure and design," Anker said.

The 72 students were given two weeks to complete the task. They were split up into groups of three and were asked to come up with a unique design the first week. The students then decided on one design and began the task of constructing their chairs. Anker said the project has been an enjoyable experience mainly because the students have been enthusiastic.

"The students are really into it. They're working hard and they're very self-motivated," he said.

Jeffery D. Mason, dean of the College of Arts and Letters, said he thinks the students did fantastic work with the gallery and said the work they did is a testament to the students' talent.

"I get a kick out of seeing it all come together. Each student came up with different solutions. All the chairs are completely different from each other and each one is interesting," Mason said. "It will be interesting to see what these students come up with three years from now."

Candy Navaro, junior interior design pre-major, and Amber Gonzales, sophomore interior design pre-major, worked in a group together. Navaro said it has been a lot of work building their chair including cutting all the pieces for the chair by hand.

"We learned how to work in groups and incorporate everyone's ideas. I think that is more realistic. It's not just going to be us working by ourselves in the real world," Navaro said.

Samantha Eustaquil, sophomore interior design pre-major, said her group's chair was a collaboration of everybody's design. Eustaquil said she enjoyed the project, but admitted it was a lot of work.

"When you're actually putting it together, it's a lot of work and stress," Eustaquil said.

Gonzales said the overall experience has been a positive one for her, and that she learned a lot. She said she already knows what she would have done differently if given a second opportunity. Gonzales said she hopes to go on with her studies in interior design after graduating.

"It's like being an artist. I feel like it's an honor to design something...like a chair, something that people are going to use, sit on," Gonzales said.

The gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to noon on the fourth floor of Mariposa Hall.

"It's an honor to design a space that people are actually going to live their lives in," Gonzales said.


Adina Zerwig can be reached at azerwig@statehornet.com

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