Label Text
Like many artists of the 1960s, Scott Burton was interested in blurring the line between art and everyday life. His approach to achieving this was to make sculptures that function as furniture and place these pieces in public spaces where people would be invited to use them. His artwork begins with refined, immaculately constructed furniture like this table and chairs, but only becomes complete when visitors actually use the pieces. Thus, Seating for Eight and Café Table I are the only sculptures in the park that visitors are allowed to touch. Two distinct artworks that have been combined together, here they function as a central resting place in the park. The cool, smooth, granite seats form a democratic circle as opposed to a hierarchical "head of the table" arrangement. The sleek lines and balanced curves of the work reveal Burton's elegant sense of design, as well as the influence of the Minimalist art movement of the 1960s and 70s. Burton was also conscious of the inherent beauty of the marble he chose as his medium, polishing it to a high sheen that highlights the grain and color of the stone.
Published References"John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park", Lea Rosson DeLong, ed., Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa, 1923, pp. 38-41
Published References"John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park", Lea Rosson DeLong, ed., Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa, 1923, pp. 38-41
DimensionsOverall (Chairs): 32 × 34 × 18 in. (81.3 × 86.4 × 45.7 cm)
Stone (Each Piece): 1632 lb. (740.3 kg.)
Stone (Each Piece): 1632 lb. (740.3 kg.)
Accession Number 2015.6.a-.h
Classificationssculpture
CopyrightARS
ProvenanceMax Protetch; John and Mary Pappajohn [purchased from previous, 1989]; Des Moines Art Center [gift from previous, 2015]