Wendell Castle
dal 19/10/2012 al 19/2/2013
Segnalato da
19/10/2012
Wendell Castle
The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield
Wandering Forms - Works from 1959-1979. The exhibition features pieces chosen for their significance within Castle's oeuvre, but also for the narrative they tell about his work and its relationship to the current environment for art and design.
"My furniture goes against the mainstream of twentieth-century design. I have no special interest in form following function. I try in my work to fulfill both the aesthetic and the practical purpose, but if one were to become dominant I would choose the aesthetic. (To be inventive and playful and produce furniture which is a complement to nature, rather than in contrast to it is my philosophy. My idea is not to reconstruct or stylize natural forms, but to produce a synthesis or metamorphosis of natural forms.)"
—Wendell Castle artist statement in the exhibition catalogue for Fantasy Furniture, held at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts of the American Craftsmen's Council, New York, January 21–March 13, 1966
Celebrated American designer/craftsman Wendell Castle (b. 1932) has been creating unique pieces of handmade sculpture and furniture for over five decades. Castle, who has consistently challenged the traditional boundaries of functional design since the outset of his career, was instrumental in helping to shape the American studio furniture movement throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He remains one of the most important American furniture makers working today.
The pieces in this exhibition were chosen for their significance within Castle's oeuvre, but also for the narrative they tell about his work and its relationship to the current environment for art and design. Almost all of them were hailed as revolutionary in changing the way we look at furniture and had an undeniable, though rarely explicitly recognized, influence on generations of artists and designers around the world. Together, these works tell the story of how Castle nimbly combined art, craft, and design, presenting a definitive study of his strong artistic vision.
Wendell Castle: Wandering Forms Exhibition Opening and Panel: Saturday, October 20 · 2 pm to 5 pm
FREE for members; FREE with the price of admission. Seating is limited and is therefore available on a first come, first served basis
Join us at 2 pm for a panel discussion with Castle and exhibition catalogue essayist and award-winning critic Alastair Gordon, moderated by Wandering Forms co-curator Evan Snyderman. A book signing with Castle immediately follows the panel. Hands-on art-making activities for families, inspired by the work of Wendell Castle, will be available in the Museum’s Education Center. Seating is limited and is therefore available on a first come, first served basis.
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Makers Market
Saturday, October 20 · 11 am to 5 pm
FREE for members; FREE with the price of admission
Makers Market is a tented, open-air marketplace featuring a curated selection of skillfully crafted products. With an emphasis on design excellence, technical expertise, and quality of materials, Makers Market offers a premier forum to experience the convergence of contemporary design and craft. Collectors and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to meet over forty American makers and shop a broad selection of objects, including ceramics, glassware, textiles, jewelry, furniture, metalwork, lighting, and more.
2012 Makers Market Participants
The Aldrich Museum Store, aldrichart.org/shop
Andrea Corson, andreacorson.com
Assembly Design, assemblydesign.us
Beth Bolgla, bethbolgla.com
Cumulus Studios, cumulus-studios.com
Daniel Michalik/DMFD, danielmichalik.com
dbO Home, dbohome.com
Eric Bonnin Ceramics, ericbonninceramics.com
Frances Palmer Pottery, francespalmerpottery.com
Hadlock Knives
Kitty Jones, kittyjones.bigcartel.com
Made Shop, madeshop.blogspot.com
Meow Meow Tweet, meowmeowtweet.com
Michael Daniel Metal Design, Inc., michaeldanielmetal.com
Niho Kozuru Studio, nihokozuru.com
Palo Samko, palosamko.com
Platform, platformfaf.com
Ruckercorp, ruckercorp.com
Satomi Kawakita Jewelry, satomikawakita.com
Shelton Studios Inc., sheltonstudiosinc.com
Ten Willow Studio, tenwillow.com
Tina Petra Handmade Jewelry, tinapetrahandmade.com
Warren Muller, warrenmuller.com
Wickham Solid Wood Studio, jessicawickham.com
Image: Wendell Castle, Wall Table No. 16., 1969. Private collection
The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
258 Main Street - Ridgefield, CT 06877
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