Easy Edges (1973) by Frank Gehry, Courtesy George Gilpin
November 16, 2008. Tracing the large and eclectic outlines of modern design history, the Brooklyn Museum opened its 23rd annual Modernism: A Century of Style and Design, the fine and decorative arts exposition at the Park Avenue Armory at 67th Street through Monday. From advertising and illustration to furniture and lighting items, the event offered a little something for every fan of the movement from more than 60 international dealers specializing in 20th-century design movements like Arts & Crafts, Art Deco, Scandinavian, Wiener Werkstätte and Post Modern. Visitors found everything from Rudolph Schindler’s low plywood chair for the Wilshire Medical Office to the cardboard curves of Frank O. Gehry’s Easy Edges easy chair. During the cocktail reception previewing the show, he Brooklyn Museum bestowed design awards on ceramicist Betty Woodman, collector John C. Waddell and Stephen Burks of Readymade design studio. brooklynmuseum.org
Chair by R. Schindler (1945), Courtesy Collage 20th Century Classics
1950’s Stilnovo Italy plexi iron and brass lamp, Courtesy Good Design