Leaners
"Leaners" are wall-mounted sculptural furniture for people to use while standing.
I started making "Leaners" in graduate school as a way to explore awkward situations people feel while waiting. I thought about where and how people wait: squatting while reading the newspaper or propped up against a wall while talking on the phone. People wait alone and in groups. There seems to be a need to lean when in these situations.
Leaners also fulfill a social need by facilitating conversation, both by encouraging close physical proximity and by their unfamiliar newness. Waiting in line or waiting for a seat, I feel uneasy not knowing what to do with my hands or how to stand, wondering if I am in the way. With a Leaner I feel more relaxed physically and socially. I began to experiment with upholstery to incorporate into the Leaners, which adds a sense of comfort to waiting. One specific Leaner has two areas: one area for the upper arm of a person to lean into while another person leans into the other side. These people have the option of facing or turning away from each other depending on their acquaintance. I also experimented with making the Leaners for different parts of the body; hip, arm, leg, or back. Each Leaner hangs on the wall at different levels depending on which part of the body is meant to lean.
Leaners are perfect for airports, bar areas, waiting rooms, train stations, restaurant waiting areas, lobbies, or any kind of lounge. They are also great to have around the house. Leaners are conceptually and functionally a great way to relax or engage in conversation.