The Decorative Arts Calendar: October

October is a busy, busy month in the art world! Exciting exhibitions, talks, and art fairs full of goodies are sure to keep us busy on the weekends. Take a look and enjoy. If I’ve missed something that should be featured here, let me know. And write in if you attend any of these, I can’t be everywhere at once.

Extra! Extra! One week only…

The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Week begins October 18 and runs through the October 24th. This means that admission to the museum is absolutely FREE and they have some cool events scheduled, like a panel discussion with this year’s winner of the National Design Awards Winners’ (OCTOBER 20, 2009, 6:30 – 8:30pm, The Times Center), another panel titled the Business of Design, (OCTOBER 20, 2009, 8:30 – 10:00am, The Times Center) and a film screening of Gary Hustwit’s design documentary, “Objectified” (OCTOBER 21, 2009 1:30 AND 3:30pm). The film “features many of the designers’ part of “Design USA: Contemporary Innovation is a feature-length documentary about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them.” These events are also FREE! Visit their website for all the details.

Also, Design USA: Contemporary Innovation will be opening on October 16, 2009. Although the focus is on contemporary design, it is worth a look.

See

There are so many exciting design exhibitions planned for the upcoming season, that it makes me sad that “world traveler” is not part of my job description since not all of them will be taking place in New York.

Vienna Beidermeier: The Art of Walnut on view October 1-December 30 featuring 15 pieces of Beidermeier furniture at Iliad Antik Gallery, 212 East 57th Street. Insider’s tip, Calderwood Gallery, the renowned Philadelphia gallery that specializes in twentieth-century decorative arts, has paired up with Iliad to showcase some of their most beautiful pieces in Iliad’s new location.

A New and Native Beauty: The Art and Craft of Greene & Greene, closes October 18th, 2009, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, This exhibition, focusing on the artistic achievements of the brothers Greene, is almost finished so run to see it. Charles and Henry Greene are recognized as two of the most important artists of the American Arts and Crafts movement. Strongly influence by the art of Japan, the brothers left a lasting legacy on both architecture and the decorative arts. The exhibition includes their architectural drawings, metalwork, furniture made of exotic hardwoods, and stained glass. For anyone interested in their work, also visit this site: http://www.gamblehouse.org/

The Artistic Furniture of Charles Rohlfs, September 20-January 3, 2010, at the Dallas Museum of Art. Rohlfs was an artist, actor and furniture maker. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Rohlfs created beautifully carved and handcrafted furniture out of wood. Never wanting to identify with a particular stylistic period, he said his work was in the “Rohlfs Style.” This exhibition will feature over forty pieces of furniture that design historians place in the same category as Arts and Crafts furniture.

Beauty on the Beach: A Centennial Celebration of Swimwear, July 10- October 11, at the Wolfsonian, Florida International University. This exhibition celebrates swimwear and dare I say it, its importance in our lives. I mean, nude beaches are a thing of Europe, no? Therefore we need a little cover-up! And this fabulous exhibition traces the history of that thing that we woman dread come summer: the bathing suit! The exhibition will also feature archival material from Jantzen, the well-known swimwear company, who is celebrating its 100th birthday next year!

Shopping in Paris: French Fashion 1850 to 1925 through October 25, 2009, at the Philadelphia Museum of Art This exhibition is also due to close shortly. The PMA always organizes great exhibition dedicated to fashion and this one promises to follow in their footsteps. Dedicated to any woman’s favorite pastime, it will explore the American shopping experience in Paris from 1850 to 1925 and the fashions that wealthy American women would have brought back home with them and how the influenced American fashion. It will feature 25 garments from the museum’s collection that have rarely been seen before. Featuring day and evening dresses by Charles Frederick Worth, a beautiful evening dress, that would make any flapper proud, designed by Natalie Gontcharova for Myrbor in 1926, and a fabulous handbag by Raoul Duffy designed for Bianchini Ferrier in 1925.

Wrought and Crafted: Jewelry and Metalwork, 1900-Present, through Jan 2010 also at Philadelphia Museum of Art. The PMA celebrates Philadelphia’s important metalsmiths as well as other artists from around the country who work with in this medium such as Albert Paley, Bruce Metcalf, and many others. The exhibition will feature decorative objects as well as jewelry.

Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection, September 30, 2009-January 31, 2010 at the Museum of Arts & Design, NY. I must be ignorant because I had no idea that former Secretary of State, Madeline Albright, had such a passion for collection pins. According to the MAD site “the exhibition examines the collection for its historic significance as well as the expressive power of jewelry and its ability to communicate through a style and language of its own.” Sounds good to me!

Hear

The Fashion Institute of Technology has some great talks lined up. These events, happening at the Katie Murphy Amphitheatre in the Fred P. Pomerantz Art and Design Center, on the first floor, are also FREE. For more information, email mailto:museuminfo@fitnyc.eduundefined.

Art Nouveau & Art Deco Fashion Postcards, (Tuesday, October 20, 6-8 pm)Meet Edith Weber and flip through her book of fashion postcards from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. Her presentation will appeal to illustrators and fashion and antique enthusiasts alike. The book features 230 colorful images by more than 20 artists. There will be a book signing following the lecture.

Edith Weber has been antiques dealer and collector specializing in RARE postcards for 30 years. Her collection includes Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Fantasy, and Early Views postcards.

Ruben Toledo’s Art: From Fashion to Literature (Thursday, October 29, 6-8 pm) Ruben Toledo talks about art, fashion, his wife Isabel, her influence on his work, and why “collaboration is the name of the game” for this Cuban-born artist. A signing of books from Penguin’s Couture Classics series will follow the lecture. The covers of Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, and The Scarlet Letter feature original art by Ruben Toledo.

I have heard Ruben and Isabel “in conversation” once before and they were fabulous. Funny, intelligent, and incredibly creative, they are very articulate and are a pleasure to watch. I also heard Ruben give a tour of his wife’s fabulous exhibition, Isabel Toledo: From The Inside Out, held at F.I.T earlier this year and he knew her work so well that it is entirely believable that these two collaborate 100%. To view my post on the Isabel Toledo exhibition click here.

Read

Wallpaper: A History of Style and Trends, Carole Thibaut-Pomerantz, Flammarion, $75. I am very excited about the publication of this book. Carolle Thibaut- Pomerantz is a dealer who specializes in antique wall paper panels and the decorative arts. The author has been studying the history of wallpaper for twenty years. An American by birth who has transplanted to Paris, Thibaut- Pomerantz is also known for her great taste. This book is a survey of this extremely fascinating subject and I am sure that the book will also be exceptionally beautiful.

Antique Shows

The Modern Show moved this year to 7 W 34th Street at Fifth Avenue, New York City 11th Floor , just opposite the Empire State Building. Show Admission: $15 – $20 with a one year subscription to MODERNISM Magazine. October 16-17-18, 2009 Friday Saturday 11am-7pm, Sunday 11am-5pm. 70 exhibitors selling the best of 20th century design for stylish 21st century collectors.

International Fine Arts and Antique Dealers Show. This prestigious fair, brought by Haughton International, is always a must on any art junkies to do list. The show runs from October 16-22, 2009. For a participating list of galleries, please click here.

In next week’s blog I will be bringing you an exclusive behind the scenes look at this year’s International Fine Arts and Antique Dealers Show complete with reviews of the best pieces and the best galleries. Stay tuned!