The Countdown Begins!

October 30th, 2009 at 04:41pm JenScan

In two years, our exhibition “Making It Real: The American Studio Movement 1945-1969” will open, co-curated by Jeannine Falino and me, Jennifer Scanlan. When I talk to my friends outside the museum world, this seems like a really long time to be working on something. But considering the scope of the project, and how much work we have to do, it feels like a really short time.

Edwin and Mary Schier in their studio

This exhibition will document the period in American history when craft, and the idea of the handmade, began to make a major impact in the worlds of design, art, and popular culture. In particular, the exhibition looks at emergence and growth of the Studio Craft movement, and how this reflected changes that were going on in many aspects of culture. It is going to be a major exhibition, with about 200 objects and a catalog published by Harry Abrams.

 We thought it might be interesting to document this process for anyone out there who is interested in how an exhibition like this comes together. We have also come across a lot of interesting material, which may or not make it into the exhibition, that we want to share with people who, like us, love this period and the exciting works of art and craft that came out of it. And at the very least, I figure, my mom can read it and see what it is that I am up to.

Craft exhibition, 1950s

We will be posting regularly on Fridays, so check back in a week (or subscribe to “making it real” on the right side of the page). We welcome comments, questions, suggestions, and ideas for future blog posts!

Entry Filed under: crafting modernism,curators