Helen Britton, Brooch, 2012, Plastics, steel, silver, glass.
When I visited Munich for the Schmuck show this past March I was fortunate enough to visit the studio of Helen Britton and David Bielander. These two contemporary jewelry artist are very celebrated in Europe and now they are coming to America! Sienna Gallery in Lenox, Massachusetts will be showing "dekorationswut:cornucopiawork" a new body of work from Britton while Bielander "Rare Species" will be on view at Ornamentum Gallery in Hudson, NY. The duo will also be giving at talk at the Brooklyn Metal Works, on Saturday, August 18th. For more info on the event at the Brooklyn Metal Works visit their site.
David Beilanader
Rare Species
On view through September 2, 2012
Ornamentum Gallery
506½ Warren St.
Hudson, NY 12534
tel 518.671.6770
fax 518.822.9819
Helen Britton
dekorationswut:cornucopia
On view through September 3, 2012
Sienna Gallery
80 Main Street
Lenox, MA 01240
413.441.1931 [email protected]
Surreal Body Gallery View, "Schiaparalli and Prada: Impossible Conversations" at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This coming weekend is the last time that you can catch the "Schiaparalli and Prada: Impossible Conversations" at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While not as theatrical as last year's Alexander McQueen extravaganza this is a really smart exhibition and fun exhibition. Not only is it a treat to see Prada’s collections from the last twenty years, which many be familiar with thanks to fashion magazines and advertisements but it is also neat to see so many of Schiap’s iconic designs, like the “shoe” hat and the “lobster” dress, an white organza creation with a painted giant red lobster on the front, both from 1937. Both women have very intriguing personalities and if you you miss the exhibition, you should watch the videos that the Met has uploaded all of the "Impossible Conversations" onto their website. For an in-depth look at the exhibition, you can read my account here.
Exterior of America House, 44 West Fifty-Third Street, NYC
The Magazine Antiques, July/August 2012The (America) House that Mrs. Webb Built
http://www.themagazineantiques.com/articles/america-house/
The Magazine Antiques just published an article that I wrote about a shop called America House and its founder Aileen Vanderbilt Webb. A seminal footnote in the history of American crafts, America House, located in New York City, sold hand-made crafts. In existence from 1940-1971, the shop, and Ms. Webb, launched the careers of many now important craftsman. The roster of artists who sold through America House reads like a who's who in American crafts: Elsa Freund, Michael Coffey, Wharton Esherick, Paolo Soleri, Jere Osgood, Ronald Hayes Pearson, Earl Pardon, Tage Frid, Paul Evans, and Wendell Castle, just to name just a few. Ms. Webb was also the guiding spirit behind the Museum of Contemporary Crafts, now known as the Museum of Arts and Design.
