I was first introduced to the furniture in welded American currency by Vermont-based Johnny Swing when the memorable design collection of event designer Robert Isabell was offered for sale at Sotheby’s in 2009. It has since become a blue chip accessory, included in the old Four Seasons Restaurant, in Storm King Art Center, and Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. Swing, which was taken under wings of James Zemaitis is now represented by R & Company, and an exhibition of his new work is now shown at the Bundy Modern Gallery, in Waitsfield Vermont, a beautifully-renovated mid-century building, the perfect setting for Swing’s sculptural furniture (below). Viewing many of Swing’s pieces in recent years, I have found that the more sculptural the bases are, the better the pieces are. The unexpected combination of waivy surfaces crafted of hundreds of thousands of coins, with complex, skeleton-like bases, is what makes his furniture unique and innovative. Just like the example of the chair below.
