The Jens Risom Chairs

Fogelson Library has a lot of the furniture that was originally purchased for the library when it opened in 1971. We have a large collection of these yellow chairs in the library. They are ugly and the most uncomfortable chairs I have ever sat in (they have a rubber interior that has aged into a mass harder than rock). Even on our last insurance inspection, the insurance company said the chairs were unsafe, and we needed to get rid of them, so getting rid of them was our plan. But then a couple of the art professors pointed out that the chairs were made by designer Jens Risom.

My coworker, Susan, took on the Risom project. Her first mission was to contact Mr. Risom to find out if he would be willing to donate money to have the chairs refurbished. At first he denied that they were his design - but after Susan communicated with him several more times and sent him additional pictures, he did decide that they were indeed his chairs and he made a donation to have one refurbished.

About a month ago we decided to have two refurbished (we were not overly hopeful about their beauty). They were returned to the library yesterday, and they are stunning! The new cushions make them the most comfortable chairs I have ever sat in (they are excellent slouching chairs). And the new color brings out the deep colors in the wood (which we hadn't even noticed in their yellow state).

So we are looking for donations to finish recovering this set of chairs. The upholsters we have hired are only charging $250 a chair.



Susan (the mastermind) and Peg (the director) enjoying the chairs moments after they arrived from the upholsters.


Below are the nice (super nice) people from Danny's Upholstery ((505) 471-2900) who brought new life to these old tired tired chairs.