Artwork copyright Ries Niemi. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Ries Niemi. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Ries Niemi. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Forces of Nature Chairs, 1996

Ries Niemi
American (born 1955)

Location: Kamiak High School, Mukilteo

About the Artwork

Forces of Nature Chairs are a series of four chairs created by artist Reis Niemi. Each chair features a design centered on the world's basic forces. The designs include electricity, gravity, light, and magnetism. Niemi notes, "I was working on another chair, a portrait of Isaac Newton, and it gave me the idea to do these. Actually, all of these forces can be related to each other through mathematical equations, some of them solved by Isaac Newton, some by later scientists such as Einstein."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Mukilteo School District.

About the Artist

Artist and craftsman Ries Niemi creates sculptures and public installations using industrial fabrication techniques and industrial materials such as metal, wood, and plastics. He lives and works in the small town of Bow, Northwestern Washington.