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Some people celebrate their victories by dancing or by jumping up and down. But at this competition, the winners celebrated by sitting comfortably.

Warner Steel Sales Inc., a family-owned steel shop that has operated at 2623 E. Raymond St. on the southside since 1995, celebrated its 30-year anniversary with a chair competition.

The owners’ friends and customers, along with artists, entered 25 chairs into the contest, which they learned about through word of mouth or social media.

All chairs had to include metal: steel or aluminum, but metal hardware, like screws, nuts or bolts did not count toward that requisite.

Eric Klinkowski, owner of lighting company SmokEy Lights, poses for a portrait in the chair he designed and entered into the chair design contest during Warner Steel Sales’ 30th anniversary event Aug. 9, 2025, on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy

A chair in the running in the chair design contest at Warner Steel Sales’ 30th anniversary event Aug. 9, 2025, on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy

Maxwell Fertik, professor at Indiana University’s Eskenazi School of Art and Design, poses with the chair he designed and entered into the contest Aug. 9, 2025, at Warner Steel Sales on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy

Left to right: a chair by Paul Williams and a chair by Brock Warner sit on display at Warner Steel Sales’ 30th anniversary party and chair competition Aug 9, 2025. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy

Morgan Patton (left) squishes the cheeks of her daughter, Dotty, sitting in the lap of Brandon Patton on Aug. 9, 2025, at Warner Steel Sales on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Brandon designed and entered the fishing-themed chair into the contest for Warner Steel Sales’ 30th anniversary event. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy

While hot dogs cooked on a steel fire pit outside the warehouse and a band played rock and roll covers, attendees took turns sitting on each chair and cast their votes for best design and most comfortable.

The Warner steel staff chose a chair for the staff pick category and announced the winners, with each awardee receiving $500.

Best design: Lilly Tomandl

Artist Lilly Tomandl and her father, Dirk, pose with the chair that she designed. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy

Dirk Tomandl sits in the chair that his daughter Lilly Tomandl designed. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy

Artist Lilly Tomandl sits in the chair that she designed which won the Best Chair $500 prize at Warner Steel Sales’ 30th anniversary event Aug. 9, 2025, on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy

Most comfortable: AJ King

Warner Steel Sales shop manager AJ King sits in the chair that he designed, which won the Most Comfortable Chair $500 prize at Warner Steel Sales’ 30th anniversary event Aug. 9, 2025, on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Credit: Provided photo/Warner Steel Sales Inc.

Staff pick: Fehrenbach’s Thursday Night Crew

A chair designed by a class of students won staff pick in the chair design contest Aug. 9, 2025, at Warner Steel Sales on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy

Through the years, the steel company has developed a connection with the art programs at Herron School of Art and Design, University of Indianapolis and Ivy Tech Community College.

“We love making with artists and students,” said Warner Steel owner Brock Warner. “The chair competition is a reflection of that.”

Dirk Tomandl takes a photo of Brock Warner (center), the owner of Warner Steel chair design contest at the company’s 30th anniversary event Aug. 9, 2025, on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy

Participants of the Warner Steel Sales’ 30th anniversary event listen to a speech Aug. 9, 2025, on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy

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Jennifer Delgadillo is Mirror Indy’s arts and culture editor. You can reach her at jennifer.delgadillo@mirrorindy.org.

Ted Somerville is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor. You can reach him at tedsomphoto@gmail.com.

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You should sit down for this one

by Ted Somerville and Jennifer Delgadillo, Mirror Indy
August 14, 2025

					<h1>You should sit down for this one</h1>
<p class="byline">by Ted Somerville and Jennifer Delgadillo, Mirror Indy <br />August 14, 2025</p>
					
<p>Some people celebrate their victories by dancing or by jumping up and down. But at this competition, the winners celebrated by sitting comfortably.</p>
<p>Warner Steel Sales Inc., a family-owned steel shop that has operated at 2623 E. Raymond St. on the southside since 1995, celebrated its 30-year anniversary with a chair competition.</p>
<p>The owners’ friends and customers, along with artists, entered 25 chairs into the contest, which they learned about through word of mouth or social media.</p>
<p>All chairs had to include metal: steel or aluminum, but metal hardware, like screws, nuts or bolts did not count toward that requisite.</p>
<div class="wp-block-columns alignwide">
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CHAIR-MAKING-COMPETITION_TS002-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59289" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Eric Klinkowski, owner of lighting company SmokEy Lights, poses for a portrait in the chair he designed and entered into the chair design contest during Warner Steel Sales' 30th anniversary event Aug. 9, 2025, on the southeast side of Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CHAIR-MAKING-COMPETITION_TS004-702x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59291" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A chair in the running in the chair design contest at Warner Steel Sales’ 30th anniversary event Aug. 9, 2025, on the southeast side of Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CHAIR-MAKING-COMPETITION_TS001-700x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59288" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Maxwell Fertik, professor at Indiana University's Eskenazi School of Art and Design, poses with the chair he designed and entered into the contest Aug. 9, 2025, at Warner Steel Sales on the southeast side of Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-columns alignwide">
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CHAIR-MAKING-COMPETITION_TS009-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59296" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Left to right: a chair by Paul Williams and a chair by Brock Warner sit on display at Warner Steel Sales’ 30th anniversary party and chair competition Aug 9, 2025.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CHAIR-MAKING-COMPETITION_TS005-1024x694.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59292" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Morgan Patton (left) squishes the cheeks of her daughter, Dotty, sitting in the lap of Brandon Patton on Aug. 9, 2025, at Warner Steel Sales on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Brandon designed and entered the fishing-themed chair into the contest for Warner Steel Sales' 30th anniversary event.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<p>While hot dogs cooked on a steel fire pit outside the warehouse and a band played rock and roll covers, attendees took turns sitting on each chair and cast their votes for best design and most comfortable.</p>
<p>The Warner steel staff chose a chair for the staff pick category and announced the winners, with each awardee receiving $500.</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" />
<div class="wp-block-columns">
<div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:33.33%">
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-design-lilly-tomandl">Best design: Lilly Tomandl</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CHAIR-MAKING-COMPETITION_TS012-725x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59299" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Artist Lilly Tomandl and her father, Dirk, pose with the chair that she designed.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CHAIR-MAKING-COMPETITION_TS011-1001x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59298" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dirk Tomandl sits in the chair that his daughter Lilly Tomandl designed.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:66.66%">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CHAIR-MAKING-COMPETITION_TS010-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59297" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Artist Lilly Tomandl sits in the chair that she designed which won the Best Chair $500 prize at Warner Steel Sales’ 30th anniversary event Aug. 9, 2025, on the southeast side of Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" />
<div class="wp-block-columns">
<div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:33.33%">
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-comfortable-aj-king">Most comfortable: AJ King</h2>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:66.66%">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AJ-King-e1755198502168-846x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59553" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Warner Steel Sales shop manager AJ King sits in the chair that he designed, which won the Most Comfortable Chair $500 prize at Warner Steel Sales’ 30th anniversary event Aug. 9, 2025, on the southeast side of Indianapolis. </figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" />
<div class="wp-block-columns">
<div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:33.33%">
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-staff-pick-fehrenbach-s-thursday-night-crew">Staff pick: Fehrenbach’s Thursday Night Crew</h2>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:66.66%">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CHAIR-MAKING-COMPETITION_TS008-671x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59295" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A chair designed by a class of students won staff pick in the chair design contest Aug. 9, 2025, at Warner Steel Sales on the southeast side of Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" />
<p>Through the years, the steel company has developed a connection with the art programs at Herron School of Art and Design, University of Indianapolis and Ivy Tech Community College.</p>
<p>“We love making with artists and students,” said Warner Steel owner Brock Warner. “The chair competition is a reflection of that.”</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CHAIR-MAKING-COMPETITION_TS014-1024x630.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59301" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dirk Tomandl takes a photo of Brock Warner (center), the owner of Warner Steel chair design contest at the company's 30th anniversary event Aug. 9, 2025, on the southeast side of Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CHAIR-MAKING-COMPETITION_TS006-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59293" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Participants of the Warner Steel Sales’ 30th anniversary event listen to a speech Aug. 9, 2025, on the southeast side of Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<p><em>Ted Somerville is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor. You can reach him at <a href="mailto:tedsomphoto@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tedsomphoto@gmail.com</a>.</em></p>

					<p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/photos-warner-steel-sales-metal-chair-competition-2025/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org&quot;&gt;Mirror Indy&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-Mirror-Indy-square-logo-1.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;&lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=59544&amp;amp;ga4=G-X0R0QW371R&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://mirrorindy.org/photos-warner-steel-sales-metal-chair-competition-2025/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/mirrorindy.org/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;</p>

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You should sit down for this one

Best design: Lilly Tomandl

Most comfortable: AJ King

Staff pick: Fehrenbach’s Thursday Night Crew

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