a very small and impractical neon chair concept, Low Stakes, 2024, acrylic, COB LED strip lighting, electronic components. Photo: Dan McCabe.

Low Stakes is an exercise in design, materials and function. The brief is simple: make an object that can be sat on. It could be a couch, a recliner, a chair, a bench, a stand, a throne or a stool.

Throughout human history chairs are present in all aspects of life as both invisible and symbolic objects. They can be impromptu assemblages of random materials on hand or celebrations of the most sophisticated craftsmanship. This exhibition will present a range of chair designs built by creatives working in the field of visual art, textiles, architecture and design. Curated by artist Dan McCabe, this project utilises play as its core philosophy –– the stakes are low, loosen up. It’s ok to fail. It’s a chair.

Featuring artists Sarah Poulgrain, Nathan Thomas, Monica Rohan and Mitchell Donaldson, Melanie Martin, Meagan Streader, Lulu Mitchell-Oehlers, Loren Kronemyer, Katie West, Jamie Macchiusi, Han Oh, Corey Khan, Claire and Dave Clark-Robertson, Bruno Booth, Amanda Bell, and curated by Dan McCabe.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.

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View Catalogue
Low Stakes, Chair Design by Australian Creatives, 2024. Installation view. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, Chair Design by Australian Creatives, 2024. Installation view. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, Chair Design by Australian Creatives, 2024. Installation view. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, Chair Design by Australian Creatives, 2024. Installation view. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, The Wink of an Albatross (a sinking feeling), 2024, Discarded dacron mainsail, nylon signal flags, wool emergency blanket, synthetic sailing line, out of date navigational guides (courtesy of The Navigation Centre), International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (Brown, Son & Ferguson, ltd.), an albatross feather. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, Stranger, 2024, steam-bent Rose Gum dowel, repurposed pine seat, plywood, acrylic paint, wood stain, screws, cotton fabric, and polyester fill. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, Chair from recycled artworks, 2024, paper pulp on a cardboard substrate, steel flat bar, yellowed foam. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, Re-Oriented Strand Board, 2024, oriented strand board sheet. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, Reclamation, 2024, responsibly sourced native vegetation. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, Corrate chair, 2024, Glass fibre reinforced concrete, steel, unwashed karate belts found in op shop when visiting my sister in Melbourne, gas PE-X pipe found on curbside during suburban infrastructure upgrades, nuts and bolts
Low Stakes, Bucksaw Chair, 2024, wattle, linen, cord. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, Blue like the sea (so far away from me), 2024, steel, marri gum, cloth, wannang (peppermint tree) leaves.
Low Stakes, If you're afraid to go alone, bring a small stone or a shell & The space around a cross shaped column, 2024, brick, paracord, rope & timber, paint, rope. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, I strain, you strain, we all strain, 2024, found objects, screens, cabling, 2 channel video. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, Residual Comfort, 2024, birch plywood, nylon cord, paint rollers, acrylic paint, Tasmanian oak dowels. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, How do you hold it all?, 2024, cast iron bench ends, MDF board, plywood, tiles, mirror, bottle caps, grout, acrylic paint. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, Kimberley Ironwood, 2024, Ironwood, screws, linseed oil. Photo: Dan McCabe.
Low Stakes, Camp Chair, 2024, foam, canvas, acrylic paint, crayon. Photo: Dan McCabe.