The Seat of Creativity

Chaos Disc, ©Joy Kreves

I have a new art studio chair, an ergoErgo "dynamic seating" chair.  There is a philosophy for everything these days, even a philosophy of sitting.

ergoErgo "dynamic seating" chair

What is the ideal chair from which to read, write, or create?  Well many people say our bodies need to move much more, and sit inactively much less. I spend most of the time in my studio standing, but occasionally when I'm working at something on a table I can sit down.

Orbit Disc, ©Joy Kreves

Ocean Disc, ©Joy Kreves

A few years ago, when I was working on a series of very detailed line drawings at a table,  I found myself developing back problems and bought one of those chairs with two seats, the lower one to put some of your weight on your knees and get your back into a better position.

Old, dangerous studio chair.

Unfortunately, I nearly fell flat on my face almost every time I used that chair, and I'm a careful person!  The phone would ring, I'd step forward as I got up to answer, catch my foot on the wheel that is unwisely placed just ahead of where your foot is, and really it is a miracle that I never actually did have that accident. I came close, so many times.  I put it out on the curb yesterday with a note taped to the seat, "FREE, but BEWARE! The wheels easily trip you up!"  Someone took it within 1/2 hour.  My conscience is clear, though; I gave fair warning. 

Aside from being less likely to seriously maim myself on my new ergoErgo chair, it takes up much less room than the other, and may even have real health benefits!  The chair's designer, Alan Heller, got the inspiration for it from watching his wife sit on one of those giant exercise balls.  It gives just a bit, the way those do, but has the advantages of taking up much less space and not rolling around the room though still allowing the sitter to shift.  Sitting on it is actually fun.  I've sat on the chair a few days this week already, while working on paintings, and haven't worried about it tripping me once!  It's lightweight enough to carry about, but seems substantial enough to last a long time.  It's even weatherproof.  Although it comes in an exciting, bright orange, I decided the black would be less distracting in my studio.

I love to read, but this is just another sedentary activity.  I just finished reading the exciting 681 page biography of Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, THE LAST EMPRESS, by Hannah Pakula. This was accomplished in the smorgasboard of seating that our recently emptied nest provides.  Some of the chapters were devoured while on the bed, the sofa, the other sofa, and...okay, I have a confession.  I have one of those really decadent massage chairs that everybody wants to try out at the Brookstone stores in the mall but which are always full of children who won't get up.  I finished the book in that chair last night.  The massage chair was a big present to mark a big birthday, and I've enjoyed it for a number of years.  Because it is in a handy location near my computer, I end up sitting there more than I'd like, though.  Most of my blog posts have been written from it.  The odd thing about that chair is that when you're not getting massaged in it, you are locked into the most rigid position of all!  Partly because it is really sized for a larger person, (my feet don't reach the ground on it) it allows for less freedom of movement than any other chair in the house. This is why I am planning to lobby for another ergoErgo to be kept near that massage chair. That way the massage chair can be mainly for massaging, and I can have more quality "dynamic sitting" time! 

Now for my most important question:  Will the ergoErgo chair help me channel my creative muse?  Is "dynamic sitting" related to "inspired sitting"?  I'll bet it is, but if not, at least this studio chair isn't out to kill me!