Straight Out Of The Camera–What?

Another piece from the 1960’s/70’s Swedish Design exhibit. I couldn’t see any sign attached to this one so I have no idea for what exact purpose it was made, or by whom. I’d have loved to see a demonstration of it. My impression is that it must have been built for someone with much longer legs than mine! But still?

In the background the orange Permobil electric wheelchair from 1969 which I presented in my Friday Weekend Reflection post.

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More Straight Out of the Camera Sunday at www.murrieta365.com

Weekend Reflection: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Electric wheelchair from 1969, design Henrik Wahlforss for Permobil AB

The Swedish Design exhibition from the 60’s/70’s that I visited two weeks ago also included design of handicap products.

Back in the mid 1960’s there was a Swedish doctor, inventor and entrepreneur, Per Uddén, who worked hard to find new ways to improve the quality of life for people with functional disabilities. One of his ideas resulted in an electric wheel-chair with some unique technical features for its time. Today Permobil has grown into a global company but the head office is still in the small town in Sweden where it all started.

I worked for a number of years as a secretary for occupational therapists in the hospital (and saw quite a few wheelchairs and other technical aids and inventive solutions). I also have a close friend (sometimes referred to on this blog as Friend Who Writes Letters), who is nowadays very much dependent on hers. Back in the 1970’s when I first got to know her, she was not yet in need of a wheelchair. But I have always associated her with colour. When I saw this orange wheelchair at the exhibition I just had to take a photo so that I could send her a copy. I’m sure her modern one is much better suited for her needs… But ‘the spirit’ behind the early orange one somehow seems just in line with my friend: Colourful, empowering and striving for independence!

I can only wish for her that she’ll be able to keep up the fight, and that she’ll have the good fortune (in midst of other misfortunes) to come across doctors and occupational therapists and medical technicians as inventive and as ready to ‘think new thoughts’ as the man behind the first Permobil.

♥ ♥ ♥

Linking to Weekend Reflection # 76
hosted by James at Newtown Area Photo

ABC Wednesday–G for Glass

Glass from 1960’s/70’s Swedish Design exhibition at the Textile Museum. I refer you to an older post at my other blog (DawnTreader’s Picture Book) to see more of the green glass. To see more posts from the Textile Museum on this blog, click on that label below.

Three of Sweden’s most famous glassworks are nowadays merged into one company, Orrefors Kosta Boda. Back in the 70’s I visited at least the latter two; where the objects in this exhibition were also probably made.

Glassblower at Kosta Glassworks (photo from Swedish Wikipedia article)

“The process of free-blowing involves the blowing of short puffs of air into a molten portion of glass which is gathered at one end of the blowpipe. This has the effect of forming an elastic skin on the interior of the glass blob that matches the exterior caused by the removal of heat from the furnace. The glassworker can then quickly inflate the molten glass to a coherent blob and work it into a desired shape. --- Skilled workers are capable of shaping almost any vessel forms by rotating the pipe, swinging it and controlling the temperature of the piece while they blow. They can produce a great variety of glass objects, ranging from drinking cups to window glass.” (Wikipedia)

 

 

Weekend Reflection–Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

Not obvious, perhaps, but the photo above is a mirror shot.
Can you see me?

No, that’s not me!
(She’s got little window reflections in her face…)

Here I am again, in another mirror.

Still at the Textile Museum
(from where I’ve been posting all week)
The first shot is from the Visitors’ Workshop Corner,
where they also have a clothes rack full of stuff
which you can try on in front of a big mirror.
Before you comment, perhaps I’d better add
that it’s my own clothes I’m wearing.
Just to save us from embarrassment!

The red-and-blue mirror frame is from
the 60’s/70’s Design Exhibition.

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Weekend Reflections
is hosted by James at Newtown Area Photo

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Scroll down or click for
my SkyWatch Friday photo

 

ABC Wednesday–F for Fashion, Fabric, Factory, Furniture

How fortunate for me that the letter F just happens to fit right in with my series of posts from our fabulous Textile Museum.

On the first floor of the museum there is a permanent exhibition of all kinds of old machinery from fabric factories and fashion industry.

Familiar face?

On the second floor, there is just now a flashy exhibition of 60’s and 70’s Swedish Design including furniture as well as frocks.

It tickles my fantasy what that sofa really looks like?

Maybe it’s just another piece of fold-it-yourself
corrugated cardboard furniture!

This bedframe seems to be of more durable design.

To see what F’s other friends have found,
go to ABC Wednesday

To see all posts from the Textile Museum on this blog,
click the label Textile Museum.