A Beginning and an End
The Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin has had the pleasure of hosting Frank Lloyd Wright: Architecture of the Interior, an exhibition exploring the design of Frank Lloyd Wright’s houses, often considered
his greatest architectural accomplishment, since June 9th. And on August 4th, this incredible exhibition will be coming to a close.
Through reproduction drawings, photographs, photographic murals, furniture and objects the exhibition illustrates the myriad — both obvious and subtle — ways Wright created the visual character of interior space and objects within it, each an essential detail of the larger whole. This is the only scheduled appearance in the State of Wisconsin, just a few minutes from one of the exhibition’s featured Wright homes: The Bernard Schwartz Home, “Still Bend,” in Two Rivers, WI, pictured right.
If you are in the area, do not pass up this opportunity to explore the world of Frank Lloyd Wright. Frank Lloyd Wright: Architecture of the Interior is organized by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC, in cooperation with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Scottsdale, AZ and has been brought to the Rahr-West Art Museum through the generosity of sponsors Bank First National and the Ruth St. John and John Dunham West Foundation. For more information please visit www.manitowoc.org
And just a quick trip away in Minnesota, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts is opening up Women in Craft & Design on display July 28th through July of 2014. Since the Arts and Crafts movement of the early 20th century, women have been an active force in craft and design. The movement’s predominant aim was to produce beautifully designed and well-made objects for everyday use. The democratic ambitions of Arts and Crafts appealed to female artists who were encouraged not only to participate, but also to lead. The innovation and creation of these early female modernists continues today, with original handcrafted objects and utilitarian works of art designed for mass production.
Drawing from the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, this exhibition at the Wells Fargo Center in downtown Minneapolis showcases the talents of women in the fields of industrial design and craft. Examples of industrial design come from a diverse array of pioneering women, including British silver designer Kate Harris, American inventor Marion Weeber, and lifelong designer Eva Zeisel, who recently passed away at the age of 105. Works by contemporary craft artists include vessels by British ceramicist Jennifer Lee, American wood artist Virginia Dotson, and local artist Jan McKeachie-Johnson. Combined, this selection of objects highlights the creativity and skill women have used to transform everyday objects into fascinating and beautiful works of art.
For more information on Women in Craft & Design, visit www.artsmia.org
Top Photo: The Bernard Schwartz Home, “Still Bend,” in Two Rivers, WI, 1939 Courtesy of The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archives (The Museum of Modern Art | Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, New York)
Bottom Photo: Gertrud Amon Natzler, Coffee pot and lid from a coffee set, 1971 (Courtesy of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts)
