About the Exhibition
This new exhibition features a fun mix of chairs created by world-renowned architects and a mini golf course designed by regional artists. The chairs belong to the private collection of Southeast, Minnesota residents Ruth and Dave Klawiter. Ruth and Dave have been collecting chairs designed by architects for years. Among the many wonderful pieces in the collection, we present twenty-one that were created between 1900 and the 2010s. These chairs exemplify a variety of aesthetic choices, innovative manufacturing techniques, a range of construction materials, and compelling references to history, culture and natural elements.
The renowned architects represented, deeply influenced our culture as they brought their innovative ideas to the design of chairs and iconic buildings all over the world. This exhibition demonstrates how creative thinking and innovative solutions can be applied to everyday objects, large spaces and - why not? - even mini golf! Several of the architects whose chairs are featured in our galleries also designed buildings and sites that can be visited in the region. Reminisce about your visit to Mini Golf & Chairs by visiting the hidden architectural gems that are referenced in the exhibition, including “Big Blue” Rochester Technology Campus by Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, right here in Rochester!
To explore - with a fun twist - how structure and form are fundamental to the design process, we invited five artists to design mini golf holes inspired by the chairs in this show, in consultation with Tom Loftus and Robin Schwartzman, A Couple of Putts. The artists looked closely at the chairs, selected one that inspired them, and deeply researched the formal, material and aesthetic choice behind the design. When playing, notice how the design elements in the mini golf course are a direct reflection of a shape, color and texture present in the chairs.
The five artists were selected through an open call, juried by a panel of experts in the fields of art and mini golf.
Featured artists: Simon Huelsbeck, Ruth Klawiter, Amanda Langer, Maggie Panetta, and and artistic collective composed by Rachel Coyne, Gerald Carlson, Cyrus Carlson,
Press:
- "New 'Mini Golf and Chairs' exhibit opens at the Rochester Art Center" ABC6 News, November 13, 2024. https://www.kaaltv.com/news/new-mini-golf-and-chairs-exhibit-opens-at-the-rochester-art-center/.
Documentation by Kali Morrison