Two-Part Chair, circa 1986

As the HIV/AIDS epidemic swept across the United States in the 1980s, Scott Burton's designs were a beautiful and complex reaction to the devastating losses experienced by the LGBTQ community. Burton's designs shifted in the 1980s as he focused on experimentation with touch and contact. The 'Two Part' Chair is an expression of the queer experience during the crisis; comprised of two parts, the elements only stand, when they are supported by the other. Once separated, each element falls apart. The cool, hard stone exterior of the chair juxtaposed by the closeness and intimacy of the two elements, evokes an important discussion surrounding queer identity, activism, and relationships during a cruel and tragic moment in history.