Art - Gary Kulak
 Gary Kulak’s Barn Chair is located at the western boundary of MLAP. He chose the sight that overlooks the Betsie River Valley because it is “a view to be framed and... contemplated.” While visiting the site, the image of a wood-framed chair came to his mind. The chair form had influenced his work for several years, particularly during the time he spent summering at nearby Crystal Lake.
With Barn Chair in mind, Gary approached David Barr who was working on the MLAP Amphitheatre at the time. Barr’s response was an enthusiastic request for sketches and the offer of enough beams left from his own construction to complete the work.
Of Barn Chair, Kulak comments, “Furniture design and making has a long history in the State of Michigan... Embedded within the structure of this work... are techniques utilized during the 19th century in the building of both barns and bridges.” The form is open to create a frame through which the landscape can be viewed. As you approach Barn Chair from a distance, note the changing relationship of the chair’s scale to the landscape framed in its vertical format.
Gary Kulak
Gary Kulak’s work can be seen throughout the nation. The Smithsonian, The Detroit Institute of Art and The Cranbrook Museum are among the public collectors of his work. Corporate collections containing Kulak art include K-Mart, IBM, Progressive Corporation in Cleveland and Elm Development of Chicago. Since receiving his B.F.A. from Cranbrook Institute and MFA from Hunter College, he has had scores of shows in locations as varied as New York City and Detroit, Florida and Kansas, Chicago and Washington D.C.
Gary frequently brings his wealth of professional experience to the classroom. Students have benefited from his instruction at the University of Toledo, Eastern Michigan University, Plattsburg State and Cranbrook Academy of Art. |
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