Robert Erickson (born Lincoln, Nebraska 1947) is an American furniture designer and woodworker in Nevada City, California. He is a studio maker, who custom designs chairs and other furniture. His work is in several U.S. national collections.
Career[edit]
After leaving University of Nebraska with an English degree in 1969, Erickson traveled to Druid Heights in Marin County, California to study with furniture makers Ed Stiles and Roger Somers.[1][2] In the summer of 1970, Erickson was employed by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gary Snyder, said to be inspiration for Jack Kerouac's The Dharma Bums. His role was to help hand-build a Japanese and Native American-inspired home in Nevada County, California.[1][2] Erickson Woodworking was established next to Snyder's property the same year when he bought a plot of land to build his workshop, and he also sold his first chair.[3] The wood shop has operated in this location since that time – now with the addition of solar power and phone lines.[4] Most of Erickson's chairs incorporate the "contoured floating back" design, which he began incorporating into his chairs in 1974.[5][6] Robert Erickson is married to Liese Greensfelder, a science writer who also helps to manage the business. Their son Tor is now a full partner in the business of Erickson Woodworking.[2]
Permanent collections[edit]
His work is part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum,[7] Yale University Art Gallery[8] and Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Racine Museum of Art.[9]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "A Landscape Full of Stories: Robert Erickson". North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ a b c Desmith, Christy (Aug–Sep 2012). "Chair Master". American Craft Magazine. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ Fisher, Marshall Jon (April 2001). "Design: The Ergonomic Rocking Chair". The Atlantic. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ Binzen, Jon (November 29, 2012). "Robert Erickson's Chairs: Angle of Repose". Fine Woodworking. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ "Chair Man of the Boards: Robert Erickson". Woodworker's Journal. 2000-05-23. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ Thomas, Laura (April 25, 2007). "Hot Stuff, West Bay". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ "Floating Back Rocker". Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ "Van Muyden Chair". Yale University Art Gallery. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ "Van Muyden Chair". Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
http://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/57188
Further reading[edit]
- Mackey, Jack (September 14, 1985). "Master Chairmaker Produces Rockers to Fit the Large Person". Lodi News Sentinel. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- Fine Woodworking profile and short film by Jon Binzen, with description of floating back design
- Ross, Tom (August 7, 2013). "Tom Ross: Furniture maker's national reputation has roots in Routt County's Strawberry Park". Steamboat Today. Retrieved 5 March 2014.