NYC Museum Report - Artist/Illustrator Maira Kalman at The Jewish Museum

Contributor Laura Johnson checking in again with another exhibition report. Laura is a gifted textile designer and colorist with 20 years of experience who lives and works in Manhattan. Because we all can't live in or visit NYC regularly she'll be checking in from time to time to report about exhibits and other interesting tidbits happening there.

Maira Kalman

Le Corbusier Sink, 2006Gouache on paper

7 3/4 x 7 1/2 in.

Collection of Jane and Patrick Curley

There was a wonderful show here of the work of artist/illustrator Maira Kalman at The Jewish Museum. 

She has done so many wonderful things, and the show is a joy to walk through. You may recognize some of her New Yorker covers – always favorites of mine.

Maira Kalman and Rick Meyerowitz

New Yorkistan, 2001Gouache and pencil on paper

20 x 14 3/4 in.

Collection of Erica and Eric Schwartz

She lives in Manhattan and has written and illustrated 13 children’s books.  She also illustrated a version of Shrunk and White’s classic The Elements of Style which was one of the best Christmas gifts I ever bought for my husband! 

Maira Kalman

Sentence Fragment, 2004-2005Gouache on paper

12 3/4 x 10 3/4 in.

Courtesy of the artist

She has curated a room at the end of the show filled with items her studio.  There are several textiles designed by her, and the most wonderful embroideries.  After seeing this show, you may feel as if you have taken a little tour of her life in drawings.

*Note from Jenny - I dropped the ball on this post and it got lost in my drafts folder, so unfortunately the show has just ended.  However, you can find the catalogue of her gorgeous work here.

Images via The Jewish Museum

NYC Museum Report - Richard Serra Drawings: A Retrospective

Contributor Laura Johnson checking in again with another exhibition report. Laura is a gifted textile designer and colorist with 20 years of experience who lives and works in Manhattan. Because we all can't live in or visit NYC regularly she'll be checking in from time to time to report about exhibits and other interesting tidbits happening there.

There's another show worth visiting right down the hall from the McQueen show at the Met. Richard Serra Drawings: A Retrospective is a wonderful show of large scale drawings by the artist Richard Serra. I have seen his sculptures quite a few times, and it was wonderful to discover that many of his drawings have the same physical impact as his large sculptural works.

Richard Serra is one of the preeminent sculptors of our time. He was born in 1939 and is best know for his large scale metal sculptures. His show at MOMA in 2007 was a huge event (it has been said the museum renovations were done to accommodate this very show).
Top image via Met Museum and bottom image via MOMA

NYC Museum Report - Color Moves: Art & Fashion by Sonia Delaunay at Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum

Contributor Laura Johnson checking in again with another exhibition report. Laura is a gifted textile designer and colorist with 20 years of experience who lives and works in Manhattan. Because we all can't live in or visit NYC regularly she'll be checking in from time to time to report about exhibits and other interesting tidbits happening there.

The Color Moves: Art & Fashion by Sonia Delaunay at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum  is one of the best I have seen this year. The show includes some garments and many, many textile designs There are multiple colorways shown for some, which I found especially enjoyable.

Source: dwellstudio.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Sonia Delaunay and her husband Robert were members and among the founders of the Orphism movement, which emphasized geometric shapes and the use of strong colors. What makes her especially interesting is the way that she was a female artist and a modern designer.

via NY Times

Her work included painting, set designs, textiles, clothing and furniture. She was also the first living female artist to have a retrospective of her work at the Louvre.

Source: dwellstudio.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Here is a link to the NY Times review of the show for some additional information about Sonia Delaunay.

NYC Museum Report - Knoll Textiles at The Bard Graduate Center Gallery

Knoll Textiles, 1945-2010
The Bard Graduate Center Gallery
May 18 - July 31, 2011

Contributor Laura Johnson checking in again with another exhibition report.  Laura is a gifted textile designer and colorist with 20 years of experience who lives and works in Manhattan.  Because we all can't live in or visit NYC regularly she'll be checking in from time to time to report about exhibits and other interesting tidbits happening there.

Air Rights (“Satellite” colorway)

Suzanne Tick (American, born 1959)

KnollTextiles

Photographer: Bruce White

The Bard Graduate Center Gallery is a great little place to keep an eye on for shows. This summer they have a wonderful exhibit on KnollTextiles, covering several decades of amazing designs and innovative materials. Knoll is known for using great designers, and this show included textiles by Anni Albers, Alexander Girard, Sheila Hicks, Jhane Barnes, Suzanne Tick and others. The show does a wonderful job of bringing both the Knoll brand and the role of textiles in the history of modern interiors and design to the forefront of public attention.  I found that while I was rather familiar with the woven textiles,there were some amazing prints that I had never seen before.
 

Pyramid (“Violet/Purple” colorway)

Christa Häusler-Goltz (German, born 1943)

Photographer: Bruce White

It was also interesting to read about the history of the textiles department.  So many talented designers have been associated with Knoll, it is no wonder that they are the leader in this arena. 

Mepal (“Willow” colorway)

Proenza Schouler (Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez: both American, born 1978)

Photographer: Bruce White

Also included in the show were some great classic pieces of furniture with their original upholstery and fun examples of sampling systems that Knoll has used over the years.

Astrid Sampe. Rugby upholstery (Two-Tone Orange colorway) on Model 71 armchair designed by Eero Saarinen, ca. 1955. Made for Knoll Textiles, chair made for Knoll Associates. Photo: Bruce White.

All images via The Bard Graduate Center Gallery

NYC Museum Report - Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty at the Met

Today I'm so happy to welcome a new contributor to my little ol' blog.  My dear friend and former colleague Laura Johnson.  Laura is a gifted textile designer and colorist with 20 years of experience who lives and works in Manhattan.  Because we all can't live in or visit NYC regularly she'll be checking in from time to time to report about exhibits and other interesting tidbits happening there.  I know I always love hearing her thoughts about these things and I wanted to share them with you all too!  So without further ado, we will begin with the biggest exhibit with the most buzz going on right now - Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty at the Met's Costume Institute (which Laura has been to TWICE - I'm so jealous)!  Take it away Laura...
 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is packed these days, everyone is going to see the Alexander McQueen show, and for good reason. If you are in the NYC area, I highly recommend making the time and battling the crowds (try a weekday; I heard there was a 45 minute wait one Saturday). The exhibit is extremely theatrical. Each room is a unique setting, completely transformed with music and sounds accompanying the work. It almost feels as if you are traversing a fun house of sorts.


In the first room you see an amazing collection of his tailoring, including some wonderfully low slung pants. There is a Cabinet of Curiosities room that has an amazing selection of accessories. Videos play on the walls from some of his most dramatic runway shows. As you continue from room to room you see work that is technically amazing, beautiful, torturous and ethereal. There is so much talent on display. For a man who died at 40, what a body of work he left behind. You leave feeling almost stunned by it.

Dress, No. 13, spring/summer 1999

Photograph by Sølve Sundsbø

 Here's how it was created on the runway.

Corset, Dante, autumn/winter 1996-1997

Photograph by Sølve Sundsbø

Jacket, Joan, autumn/winter 1998-1999

Photograph by Sølve Sundsbø

Dress, Widows of Culloden, autumn/winter 2006-2007

Photograph by Sølve Sundsbø

Dress, The Horn of Plenty, autumn/winter 2009-2010

Photograph by Sølve Sundsbø

Ensemble, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, autumn/winter 2002-2003

Photograph by Sølve Sundsbø

"Oyster" Dress, Irere, spring/summer 2003

Photograph by Sølve Sundsbø

All images via The Met