Understanding Art, Media and Design - Essay Example

?Rocking Stools can be found both in dark walnut and maple natural colours. The materials for making Rocking Stools are stained maple wood and chromesteel rods. Many people consider these stools that have convex bottom to rock, hence the name rocking stool. Rocking stool was specifically designed by Isamu Noguchi in the year 1954. Isamu Noguchi was an American-Japanese artist from 1904 to 1988. During his time as an artist, he managed to design many things ranging from public spaces, lamps, sets for furniture along with theatre. Immediately after coming back from Japan in 1954, the designer of rocking stool decided to construct the object (Falk, 2009). To enable the making of this object, Isamu Noguchi, the designer of the object personally took the Rocking Stool design to Hans Knoll. Knoll was to be the producer of that furniture. In terms of the object designing, the rocking stool stirs up the dumbbell outline of those stools that can be found in African countries. Despite the fact that Isamu Noguchi had a desire of using material that could be considered new at that time, he had proposed the use of polyurethane to produce that object of furniture. However, he at long last picked on a combination of a material that was highly luxurious. The rocking stool had a somewhat curved seat. In addition its sections of the base were turned in walnut and teak before being waxed. The joints of the stool were made from chromed rods of steel wire that diagonally slanted to create a round, central foot. That round shape was intended to acknowledge its object designer and wire artist, Harry Bertoia (Lavine, 2007). Given that rocking stool was designed generally for children, it has an extraordinary sitting sentiment. That sitting feeling was actually designed to be experienced by its intended users. Since the Rocking Stools combined ergonomic and playful aspects, they were fun for anyone to be seated on. The arc like bases of rocking stools make the stools to gently rock in each and every directions being protected by a plastic support and an edge that is contoured. The Rocking Stools were later shaped into a miniature table that could be advertised as a travel companion to a wired chair meant for children, made by Harry Bertoia. Based on his personal initiative, Hans Knoll allowed the diminutive table to be enlarged and extended to full size in the year 1957. The evolved large size rocking stool was sometime referred to as cyclone table. It was regarded as one of the elegantly designed dining table in the twentieth century (Dudley, 2005). This object that was stained maple wood, chromed steel rod and toned in Walnut finish is not being produced at the moment thus only limited quantity is available in stock. Rocking stools can be availed in both low and high versions. Whereas the high version measures about 42.5 cm, the low version measures up to 25 cm high. Both low as well as high versions of seats have a diameter of 36 cm. Rocking stools and chairs were designed to be used during time of relaxation. Just like porches, they are meant to be used during a scorching summer evening when one is drinking an iced tea and thinking deeply or having a pleasant conversation. No one can deny that the best way to lazily enjoy an afternoon summer is by rocking away boredom of a rough day while sitting on a rocking stool in a shade. There is even an option of mixing ones modern frantic lifestyle with the ancient way of having a break. Outdoor rocking stools are a grand way to loosen up and take pleasure in the outdoor activities. The majority of wooden rocking stools are shipped when they are unfinished. This means that if need arises, one can finish them up by using a special furniture paint, oil or other colorings. Prior to finishing up, several factors have to be taken into consideration ahead of finalizing on new outdoor rocking stools. Weather should be considered first. Whether it is cold or hot, the place to store the rocking stools matters. While a number of people have a preference to leave their outdoor rocking furniture in the natural weather at all times, this practice makes the wooden furniture to develop a gray or silvery look. Other people prefer to preserve the new look. Although the sun, rain and wind do not affect the structural veracity of the wooden rocking stools, they modify the surface shade of unprotected hardwoods of rocking furniture. Rocking stools with hardwoods that have content of oil like cedar and teak, they do not have to be refined. Whilst rocking chair with soft woods like pine have to be sealed so as to prevent them from rotting with time. For people who choose to seal their outdoor rocking stools, they should make a point of using wipe-on manufactured products as compared to varnish or paint because they are to be used on a yearly basis or after every two years. Scores of wipe-on products are available in both synthetic and natural forms to increase the beauty of rocking stools objects. It is usually recommended to get products that have mold inhibitors for places that are prone to a cold and wet damp weather. For people residing in a sunny and hot region, UV protection is good. Cleaning of rocking stools ought to be carried out on yearly basis. This is performed with a sponge or soft brush together with an eminence wood cleaner that can be found in many hardware stores. Rinsing rocking stools is purely done by using of plenty of water that has to be extremely clean and given more time to thoroughly dry. Thereafter, a final finish can be now given to them. In some cases, taking care of rocking stools entails rinsing them once every month using a sponge or cloth that has been dumped in mild soapy water. This is the cheapest and simplest form of cleaning that seems to prolong the beauty as well as life of rocking stools (Lord, 2009). Just like any other piece of furniture kept in a national museum, rocking stools compel one to pat with good amount of money when he wants to pay for them. Nevertheless, many models for that furniture are available to fit the pocket of most individuals. A huge amount of paying is attributed to the fact that rocking stools last for several seasons without needing repair. When making comparisons on prices of out-of-doors rocking stools in online markets, it is essentially good to check the overall price of the rocking stools including the cost of shipping price. Other modified forms of rocking stools can be found in many material forms currently: iron, wood, aluminum, plastic and resin. These materials range from traditional unsophisticated design to the invention of more innovative architect. A wicker and rattan rocking stools can cost from as little as $150. For the most part of rocking stool models which are presently produced from resin wicker, can withstand most weather conditions hence can be left outdoors being exposed to weather elements. That does not mean that rocking stools made from synthetic materials are of poor quality. In actual fact, it is possible get very strong plastic rocking stools with high quality that are very light in nature only weighing 40 Ibs. This makes portability of the object to be high. But their prices for such type of rocking stools usually range from $300 to around 350 (Pearce, 1992). The advantages that accompany high quality plastic rocking stools are many, in addition to being weather resistant; there are a variety of colors to choose from. If a person cannot refuse to give in to the natural beauty of wood availed in the market, there are many diverse designs of that piece of furniture available: cedar, pine, mahogany, cypress, teak rubber and oak. But wooden forms of rocking stools are the commonly found in the market. While Pine are considered by many customers to be cheap as compared to other wooden furniture, teak are in general the most costly piece of furniture (Burnham, 2011). A high quality rocking stool made from cedar usually cost anything ranging from $250 to about $500. Models of teak rocking stools normally begin at about $400 or sometimes at $450. In some cases, they can often be priced above the mark of $700. All the models are accompanied with free cushions. Majority of wooden rocking stool products that are purchased online can typically be shipped when they are ready for assembling. Resin and plastic rocking stools, on the other hand, usually arrive when they are assembled already. Manufacturers of rocking stools ship the complete furniture of rocking products with all required fasteners. This excludes all forms of additional purchase. Moreover, instructions on how to assemble rocking stools are provided and are usually easy and very quick to follow (Stewart, 1984). The approach of making and designing rocking stools found in Noguchi Museum is simple. In the first place, conformability along with ability of comfort must be ensured for intended use of the furniture. A rocking stool must enable a good amount of extended time for sitting: this could be for about three hours during dinner time or a long period of time playing cards at night. The design for rocking stool must maintain good posture of the person sitting on it. It should also be flexible enough to be taken anywhere and give the required support. A good proportion and support for sitting position respects the bottom level bones and gives the correct repose angle. These are the main elements to be considered. The essential aspect in designing rocking stool is to ensure support. To guarantee this, the designer creates a needed tension with body that would be sitting on the furniture. Just like the spring counterbalances weight that is dropped on it, the rocking stool should back and support the force the sitting person exerts (Simon, 2010). The designer’s approach considers thousands of comments, conversations and fittings from potential customers collected for a period of many years. Consequently, the designer adapts and alters the details of rocking stools in order to come up with furniture that is friendly to the body of the person sitting on them. One outcome of such work was the creation of the “Floating Back”. That was a contoured support that appeared as if it was floating. The designer started making that support in early 1974. Since then, he has been continually refining and improving it. The features of Floating Back had slats that were bendable so as to reduce flexible pressure on an individual’s lower back and at the same time maintain the proper posture of the spine’s curve (Conn, 2012). In terms of the rocking stool’s proportions, the two critical things are how high it is from the ground and seat’s depth. Both these elements can change dramatically based on the desired comfort: this is measured by the way the weight of the person sitting on rocking stool is distributed on the furniture. Correct body distribution is normally attained when the depth of the seat maintains and supports the entire thigh length without bending so deep to a point of cutting into the knees. The furniture must allow the sitting persons to firmly plant their feet on the ground (Weil, 2002). References Burnham, R. 2011, Teaching in the Art Museum: Interpretation as …New York: Getty Publications Imprint. Conn, S. 2012, Do Museums Still Need Objects? (The Arts and …California: University of ... age. Dudley, S. 2005, Museum Materialities: Objects, Engagements, Interpretations, New York: Rutledge publishing. Falk, J. 2009, Identity and the Museum Visitor Experience, London: LeLeft Coast Press. Lavine, S. 2007, Exhibiting Cultures: The Poetics and Politics of … Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution Press. Lord, B. 2009, The Manual of Museum Exhibitions, Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group. Pearce, S. 1992, museums, objects, and collections, Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution Press. Simon, N. 2010, The Participatory Museum, Oklahoma: Museum 2.0 publications. Stewart, S. 1984, On Longing: Narratives of the Miniature, the … London: Duke University Press. Weil, S. 2002, Making Museums Matter, Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution Press. Read More