Chair Check is an ongoing photo and video research project documenting furniture I encounter in public spaces and businesses, from libraries and airports to restaurants and benches. I began by spending lazy weekend afternoons walking to libraries and photographing the furniture on film, simply for fun. This selection focuses on the libraries I’ve visited in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Francisco. My videos capture the comic side of the research: often in workout clothes, I crouch to inspect a chair, inviting the question, “What is this woman doing?” I’m usually looking for clues to identify the chair and its designer. Through these encounters, I draw attention to the furniture and design history embedded in the places people use every day.

Video and photography by Laura Niles.