These Chairs Rock

When Katie Bister ’23 finished her engineering technologies and applied design degree, she didn’t have to go far to find a job. She had spent four years in the woodcraft department of Student Craft, and now she had the chance to make things full time. Among the items she builds is the People Collection Rocker, which she designed her senior year. “That whole semester, every week, we made a new chair. We built eight or 10 prototype chairs. We didn’t really like any particular one, so we said, ‘Well, what about a rocking chair?’” It was important to Bister that the chair be armless so a person can be active while sitting in it. “The lack of arms allows you to play an instrument or do some crocheting or knitting or carving without the arms getting in the way,” she explained. By the end of the school year the design was finalized and joined ceramic bowls, mugs, and wooden stools as the newest addition to Student Craft’s People Collection. The People Collection was originally designed by ceramicists Zoe Cowley ʼ20 and Rachel Bates ʼ20. “The People Collection represents the diverse and eclectic community at Berea,” Bister said. “They wanted to celebrate that by forming this collection.” The People Collection is bright and colorful, and the Rocker is no exception. Made with a blend of ash and cherry woods, it comes in nine different finishes. Each is engraved with the Student Craft logo. If Katie doesn’t have other items to work on, like the dust pans she’s already known for, she and Rob Spiece, Woodcraft director, can make about four per week.