A CHAIR FOR GORD DOWNIE

Never intentionally patriotic, Gord Downie told Canada’s story through his poetry and performance as the front man of The Tragically Hip. The enigmatic and often eccentric Downie would embrace the stage with a corporeal presence jigging, lashing out, ranting, exploring storytelling through dance, song, and body language. He was just as much of a musician as he was a raconteur and even in the final years of his life, he personified courage in his performance, advocacy for native reconciliation, and storytelling. 

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A chair for Gord Downie is a chair that exemplifies the act of performance and storytelling. The chair is a device that propagates an artist’s message, a poet’s work, an actor’s delivery; it is more than a theatrical prop. Form can inspire performance through posture and poise, can elevate oneself through movement. A chair for Gord Downie is a chair that inspires courage. 

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The intimacy of a storyteller. The lower (45cm) position of the chair creates a move intimate connection with the user and their audience. It is more grounded and allows the user the ability to connect with the people around them better

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The Dynamic Performer. The upright position of the chair sits at 60 cm high, similar to most bar stools. The footrest is positioned at a comfortable height that is optimal for a guitar player. The footrest provides a sense of directionality for the user however the rest of the chair does not confine the user to a singular position.