My friend and mentor Daniella Ohad (who is also behind those wonderful On Design videos that I wrote about here last summer) is starting a new course called “Collecting Design: History, Collections, Highlights.” The course, offered through the New York School of Interior Design, will run in two sections, one in the morning, beginning May17th (10-12pm) and another one in the evening, beginning May 22nd (5-7pm). There will be eight sessions, with each session dedicated to a new topic in decorative arts. Ohad has lined up some an impressive roster of specialists who will offer the students insight into their respective fields.
K.E.M Weber, Lounge Chair, ca. 1934 |
This is an incredibly timely course because as Ohad says “while at first, it was mainly fueled by the energy of the fine art market, collecting design has since emerged into a discipline on its own right, and one that not only dominating global interior design, but also attracting a new generation of young and serious collectors, generating exhibitions, publications, and fairs such as PAD. Collecting design has been identified by the Wall Street Journal as a lucrative venue of investment, has come forward as a source of taste-making and trend forecasting, maker of status, culture, and taste, generating market reports, research projects and scholarships, monographs, and endless headlines.”
Charles and Ray Eames, Shelving Unit, ca. 1950s |
As of now the schedule of speakers is as follows:
American Arts and Crafts – Beth Cathers and Robert Kaplan
Wiener Werkstatte – Derek Ostergard
French Art Deco – Benoist F. Drut
American Mid-century – Christina Japp
American Studio Movement – Bob Aibel
French Postwar Design – Alberto Aquilino
Postmodernism – Mark Benda
Contemporary Design – Jennifer Olshin
I recently spoke to Ohad about the class and this is what she had to say…
Q: How did the collaboration come about with Modern, Phillips de Pury and the New York School of Interior Design come about?
A: When I have first thought about creating a program for collecting design, I approached Phillips de Pury as one of world’s top auction houses to deal with design. In fact, Phillips was the pioneer of the
design sale as we know them today, when, in 2001, it offered the first curated sale when James Zemaitis headed the design department. It would not have happened without MODERN Magazine and its publisher Jennifer Roberts who loved the idea and together we developed it into a real program. The NYSID recognized the value of offering such a program, which is the first of its kind to the community of interior designers and architects. I respect their vision and understanding that collecting design has taken a central role in the territory of interior and in the international marketplace.
Q. Who is the target audience for the class?
A: Everyone who loves design and who appreciates aesthetics would be interested in the contents of the program. Architects, art collectors, designers of all kinds, and people who are seeking to connect with contemporary culture.
Q. What is your favorite part of teaching a course like this since this is not the first time that you have organized similar classes?
A: This is the first time I teach this program in the US. In the process of developing the program, we have run various sessions in museums and in other venues to test the reaction of audience, to find what would be the best formula, to shape the program with the most relevant themes.
Q: Which session are you looking forward to the most?
A: I love them all.
Since the course is sponsored by MODERN Magazine and Phillips de Pury, every student will receive a subscription to MODERN and two catalogs for Phillips de Pury design sales. Also since the course is taking place during the auction season, students will also get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Phillips Design auction.
To register for the course visit the New York School of Interior Design’s website.
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oh if someone asked me which sessions sounded the most interesting, I would answer very specifically: Wiener Werkstatte and, if it was on offer, The Bauhaus Design School.
By the way, which design school did your chair and cabinet come from?
Hels,
You and I both love the WW! Derk Ostegard is also incredibly knowledgeable on the topic so it will be a great lecture. Sorry about not identifying the work..I got lazy but captions are now up! Thanks for keeping me on my toes.