The Pope is in New York today as part of a three-city tour of the United States taking place this week.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Plywood throne designed for Pope's NY mass reflects "humility"
The Pope is in New York today as part of a three-city tour of the United States taking place this week.
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8 comments:
I understand the design idea behind this chair, I still think it is ugly. It is modest, strong, and gives a powerful image but it just is not aesthetically pleasing. I think there could be better designs that would evoke the same feeling. I think what I dislike is the wood choice. The basic pine color really does not look good as a staple. It could have at least been stained a little darker. Also, it is hard to tell from a picture, but the finish seems kind of cheap, it has just a slight sheen that is really not appealing. I would have also probably run another piece of trim straight down the back of the chair to add a little more visual interest. There is a difference between a simple, modest, minimalist design and a boring design. Now what is missing from the pictures provided is the “set” that the chair will be on. I am hoping it will not stand a lone and will be surrounded in an environment it fits in. Furthermore I did some research and as it turns out they didn’t even use walnut for the trim, it is just stained plywood. I understand being modest but it’s the Pope, he deserves real walnut.
I'm going to have to agree with Drew on this one- I'm not a fan of the design of the chair. It does fulfill the idea that the Pope wanted though. Pope Francis has made a statement about the luxuries of the papacy in the past. Specifically, he has spoken out against the extravagance that previous popes have taken advantage of. I understand that Pope Francis didn't want any kind of designs, but in the case I think that the designer could have used with at least something more visually interesting. While the contrasting woods are a beautiful idea, it is not pulled off well aesthetically. The way the darker wood outlines the lighter wood makes the throne look cartoonish rather than simple. The shapes are not elegant; they are too simple. Pope Francis was not looking for a complex chair, obviously, but this should look like a chair than a Lay-Z-Boy.
Good message, bad chair. I don't think it was the artists intent to create an ugly chair unless he is arguing that humility is dealing with ugly craftsman ship. In catholic churches ive seen many chairs with the same message but they are deigned in a very tasteful way. I've grown up catholic and I hope that the artist who was commissioned got permission to make such a statement and that it wasn't forced onto the pope or the church. Usually the chairs i have seen have been made out of one type of wood so that it was cohesive and matched. This one seems as if he went into a wood store bought some of the cheapest pieces he could find no matter what color it was and built the chair. I think the thing to do now to fix it is to get a heavy stain and stain all of the surfaces so that it becomes more unified. as it stands it doesn't matter what the message is, people will walk into mass hoping to see a beautiful service but they will have to stair at that chair thus taking away from the experience they are coming to see. the message of the artist distracts from the message of the church and the symbol it stands for.
People can judge me whatever they want but I thought this chair looks fine. Why? The Pope said he’s looking for simplicity and I think that works. This is not a joke. And maybe just because I came from a different background but even I grew up in a convent and got involved in all catholic activities all the time for 6 years, sang songs to warship god for 12 years, still barely remember some of the prayers and used to be fluent in Christian study… I still don’t agree with some of the ideas of Catholic and Pope. I personally think that once you gave yourself to god means you should live a very simple life and cares more about helping gods children out there instead of sitting in a golden throne and live a pretty luxurious live. I speak like this because I saw both sides from nuns and priests who some work so hard and live in a poor condition because they said that’s what Gods want them to do, and the other group who don’t. I don’t think Pope deserves a real 100 year-old black oak throne to reflects “Simplicity” I think this plywood chair is fine and considering the fact that he might be having a business with this throne for what? An hour? If this man did it with some faith included then what’s the problem? I think this is good, simple, great. I really thought that.
I don’t know what has Ms. Walker’s knickers in a twist. I think that the chair says a lot with its simplicity. This pope has noticeably taken the position down a notch so why have a super fancy chair? I had no idea that the symbolism of the chair is so important in the Catholic church. It makes sense that they would have one specially designed, but it would go against the current pope’s beliefs if it was too ornate. One of the comments on the article remarks that a throne is a throne no matter the material. I would argue that there is stark difference between a gold throne and a wooden throne. The former is projecting a message of wealth and power, whereas the later shows humbleness. General biblical teaching suggests that leaders are servants and I think that a wooden throne shows that better than any other material.
Even though the design could have been better, I appreciate wholeheartedly the idea behind the lack of design and the simple materials. Pope Francis is an incredible man who has managed to take what was previously a very rich and flaunted position in the church, and turn it into what is was supposed to be. The church should be humble and advocate for the poor, and this chair represents that beautifully. The finishing colors could have been better coordinated, and the shape is, at best, awkward, but the design fulfills all the Pope's requirements. I grew up in a catholic household, and as I aged, I became concerned over the sheer wealth of the church. Cathedrals are too often adorned in finery, when one of the founding principals of Christianity is giving back and giving away to the poor. It is truly heartening to see Pope Francis trying to turn this tradition of wealth away, even if he is doing so with an ugly chair.
I never thought so much about a chair. Even in set design for a show, chairs really just need to match the time period and the setting. This chair those, seems to interest many. I agree that it is a simple design and for its purposes serves well. However, the debate that goes along with this, seems highly extreme to me. I very much respect the Catholic importance that it holds true to the Pope's ideas of simplicity and humility, but the ones who have been commenting on it, saying that it is heinous and design blasphemy, are taking just a chair way too far. The Pope used it for a day, now I want to know what it to become of the chair. Will is be used in a museum or was it a gift that the Pope will hold on to? I never though much about what kind of chairs people of importance sit on, but now I will for sure be looking a little closer and seeing if their is any message behind it.
Why does this article feel like something out TheOnion repertoire? I totally understand the point of the designer as well as those from papacy side of things. The idea that there is even one iota of controversy for the chairs design is silly. If this is what the Pope wanted, why do people care? He is conserving money, not living as lavishly as previous pontiffs, and trying to teach humility to the masses. I appreciate the simplicity and reasonable cost of this chair, if only others shared this same view what a humble place this might be. However, I do have a feeling that this chair would sky-rocket in price if it ever went for sale in some art market. The story behind the chair’s commission and design will likely live on for many centuries, and possibly even develop a cult following. It’s interesting how such a mundane decision from the Pope can have such far-reaching effects and discussion. Way to go Pope Francis!
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