The two exhibitions of the American Federation of Arts will be ready for review on and after Thursday, May 7th. These exhibitions will continue on view until the end of the month but we send you this notice hoping that you can arrange to come within the next few days so that your review many appear in the issue of your paper for Sunday, May 17th, the day before the opening at the Museum of the Annual Meeting of the Federation. This will also give us time to supply you with any photographs you may need.
Very truly yours,
THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 04-06_1931, 087. View Original
May 2, 1931
Arens, Egmont H.
Mr. Arens is Director of the Industrial Styling Division of Calkins & Holden. He is also design Director of Pan-Glo Lamps. He was formerly president of AUDAC; Art Editor of Vanity Fair; Managing Editor of Creative Art; Editor and Publisher of Playboy. Mr. Arens has written and lectured extensively on the modern decorative arts.
Bernhard, Lucien
Mr. Bernhard is the originator of the Harmonized Room idea, as shown in the Contempora Exhibition at the Art Center in 1929 and is the co-founder with Bruno Paul and Paul Lester Wiener of Contempora. His poster "Three Men in a Snowstorm" for REM has been reproduced in color in the new edition of the Encyclopedia Brittanica as an example of modern poster design. Mr. Bernbard is responsible in a large degree for the modern type which is in usage today.
Breuhl, Anton
Mr. Breuhl forsook engineering in order to devote his entire time to photography. Last year he won the Harvard prize for his Weber and HeiIbruner series. This year he won a Harvard prize for his Steinway advertisements. He has also received a good many Art Director Club medals. Some of his more important accounts are Steinway & Son, Philco Radio, etc. At the present time, he is devoting a large part of his day to research work in color photography in which he is very much interested.
Bobritsky, Vladimir
Mr. Bobritsky is a decorative painter. He also designs advertising layouts. Among his more well known accounts are:- Saks Fifth Avenue, Cunard Line, DuPont Rayon, Batten, Barton, Durstino & Osborne, Cannon Hills, N.W. Axer & Sons. Mr. Bobritsky' s signature is Bobri.
Henry, Churchill
Mr. Churchill is an architect and designer of interiors. He has recently designed an all glass building which has several very interesting effects. The columns are set back eight feet which will permit continuous windows. The walls are hung from the roof. Another project, which has been completed recently is the new offices and show rooms of Bourjois, a large perfumery house.
Danielson, Emelie
Miss Danielson is a photographer of distinction - working for Vogue, House & Garden, Town & Country, Home & Field, Charm, House Beautiful, etc. Last summer Miss Danielson spent in Europe photographing the Stockholm Exposition, Swedish castles, modern furniture and pewter, Carl Milles' sculpture.
Deskey, Donald
Mr. Deskey is a designer of interiors. furniture, lamps, show windows, textiles, etc. He is an industrial design consultant.
Donaldson, Alice
Miss Donaldson is a designer of textiles, wallpaper, screens, and window displays.
Dryden, Helen
Miss Dryden first won notice as a designer of magazine covers. She has designed for Vogue, Vanity Fair, House & Garden and the Delineator. Her more recent activities are in the fields of textile and industrial designs. She is Art Director for the Dura Company and has designed a number of cases for the Shur-On Optical Co.
Frankl, Paul T.
Mr. Frankl is known for his designs of modern furniture and for his two books "Form and Reform" and "New Dimensions". He is the president of Frankl Galleries, Inc. Mr. Frankl is a lecturer and professor at the New York University and gives courses on modern art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Geddes, Norman-Bel
Mr. Geddes is the architect of the Toledo Scale Factory a unit of building which has created considerable discussion because of its many unusual features. Mr. Geddes has written a series of articles on the Modern Home which is now appearing in the Ladies Home Journal.
Goodman, Percival
Mr. Goodman is a pupil of G. A. Licht, Jacques Carlu, Emanuel Pontremali. He is best known for his interiors and windows for Saks - Fifth Avenue; Stowart & Company. He has also done interiors for E. T. Slattery Co., Wellesley, I. Magain Co., San Francisco.
Gnam, Hugo Jr.
Mr. Gnam is a manufacturer and designer of furniture. He designed and executed the furniture and wall hangings for the Bliss Theatre, Long Island City; executed the furniture designed by Joseph Urban for the New School of Social Research, designed and executed the metal Furniture now exhibited, at the Architectural League and Allied Art Exhibition, by the Rustless Iron Co.
Green, Kneeland L.
Mr. Green is Art Director of Stehli Silk Corp., and is best known as creator of the "Americana" prints. He is the author of various articles regarding art in industry which have appeared in the leading art and trade magazines. His most recent creative interest has been in the field of modern photography.
Hoffman, Wolfgang & Pola
Mr. & Mrs. Hoffman are the consulting designers for the Y.M.C.A. in Newark, N.J. They have designed pewter smoking sets which bear their trade marks, also, leather goods for the Star Case Co., and lamps for Luminator, Inc. and Vollmer and Co. They are designers of interiors - having recently completed the designs for a chain of restaurants known as T.M.C. Sandwich Shops. They also did the Little Carnegie Playhouse.
Howe, George
Lescaze, Wm. E.
Howe & Lescaze are a firm of architects and interior decorators. Their most recent projects were the Trans-Lux Movie Theatre; a 32 story building in Philadelphia; a residence for Frederick Vanderbilt Field, and they are now designing the Hessian Hills School, at Croton-on-Hudson.
Jensen, Gustav
Mr. Jensen has been drawing ever since he was a little boy-Although he has never had any real art schooling he is considered one of our foremost designers of the day. Mr. Jensen believes he can do anything in the nature of a design. Among those things which he has already done are:-Advertisements for Charles of the Ritz,; Gilbert Products; Haragheusian Rug Co., for whom he has also designed rug containers. He has designed metal objects for the Edison Electric Co., a telephone for the American Telephone Co., silver ware, exhibition booths, type sets, and he is the consulting designer for the International Nickel Co. He is also designing refrigerators for the Frigidaire Co.
Karasz, Mariska
Miss Karasz has made her reputation as a designer of modern woman's clothes. She is also interested in textile, wallpaper and furniture designing.
Kachinsky, Alexander
Mr. Kachinsky has studied abroad and has lectured both in New York and Europe. He designed the stage setting for the Russia Ballet of Piaghillef is Paris and Spain. Recently Mr. Kachinsky designed the interior of the Rolls Royce Automobile Agency, also, the interiors of the Art Alliance of the America offices. He designed the exhibit stand, boxes and some advertisements for Houbigant.
Kent, Rockwell
Mr. Kent is leaving at the end of April for Greenland to spend 1-1/2 year painting, drawing and exploring. Before he sails he will finish the following projects which he is working on at the present time:- Text and pictures of "A Birthday Book" published by Random House, lithographs for "Venus and Adondis" published by Leo Hart, Rochester, N.Y. 40 illustrations for April's Daughter", a book of poems by Selma Robinson published by Farrar & Rhinehart, with a special limited edition of 300 copies issued to subscribers only of the "Colophon" magazine, a series of woodcuts for the American Car and Foundry Co., and various minor commissions. In order to finish this tremendous amount of work Mr. Kent works 15 hours a day - from 5:00AM to 10:30 P.M. with an hour out for a horseback ride.
Kiesler, Frederick J.
Mr. Kiesler was one of the first exponents of modern window display in Europe. He designed the Saks - Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale windows and has set the pace for other window designers. His book "Contemporary Design Applied to the Store and Its Display" shows graphically some of his most interesting ideas. Mr. Kiesler designed the Eighth Street Cinema.
Leonard, Robert L.
Mr. Leonard is an industrial designer. He is best known for his advertising designs for DuPont, General Motos, Celanese Corp., Holmes F. Edwards. He is one of the editors of the ANNUAL OF AMERICAN DESIGN, 1931 - AUDAC'S Year Book.
Magnussen, Erink
Mr. Magnussen is a goldsmith and silversmith. He is a pupil of Stephen Sindig, Denmark. His work has been shown in European and American Museums. He is associated with August Dingeldein & Son in the manufacture of modern silver and semi precious jewelry.
Mergentime, Marguerita
Miss Megentime is a designer of textiles, packaging, wallpaper, and is the designing stylist for the Kleinert Rubber Company.
Muray, Nickolas
Mr. Muray, at present is doing extensive research work in color photography. He is trying to utilize the human figure by reproducing the actual model in color. Mr. Muray's work appear in the Ladies Home Journal. He also co-operates with various advertising agencies.
Kern, Ellen M.
Mrs. Kern is the designing consultant for the Wilbur Suchard Chocolate Company and the Brewster Ideal Chocolate Company. She designed the furniture for the showrooms of the Art Industries, Inc. Mrs. Kern has done designs for wallpaper for the Muralia Paper Co., and oilcloth designs for the Standard Textile Co.
Reeves, Ruth
For the last two years, Miss Reeves has been devoting her time to designing hand printed fabrics for special purposes and places. She was represented by sixteen designs for textiles in the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts at Stockholm last summer including fabrics for individuals and for manufacturers. Some of her textiles were shown in a special exhibition in Denmark. Among her recent commissions are the hangings for the children's room in the public library at Mt. Vernon, N.Y., a historical and contemporary family life panel for Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Longfellow; a family panel for Dr. & Mrs. Durland Van Orden; curtains and upholstery for a radio room in the country home of Mr. and Mrs. Joel E. Singarn. She has exhibited at the American's Designer's Gallery the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts, and the Cleveland Museum of Art. Most recent of Miss Reeve's achievements were a series of contemporary designs for textiles made by W. & J. Sloane.
Reiss, Henriette
Mrs. Reiss is the originator of a new method of teaching design to children - she believes in teaching the child by lines rather than by objects. An exhibition of the work accomplished by some of her pupils will be on exhibition at the Museum of Natural History form April 27th to May 17th. She has two classes in Rhythmic Designing - one for public school supervisors and another for public school teachers. Mrs. Reiss designs book jackets, illustrations and textiles.
Reiss, Winold
Mr. Reiss first attracted attention in America by his decorative paintings and modern posters, being one of the pioneers in the latter field in America. He has more recently concentrated on the decoration of interior. Among his more notable achievements are the St. George Hotel, Rumpelmayer's Tea Room, the Crillon Restaurant, the Tavern Club, and the Waldon Book Shop.
Rohde, Gilbert
Mr. Rohde is a designer of furniture interiors. He has recently been engaged to re-design the entire Haywood-Wakefield Furniture Line.
Schoen, Eugene
Mr. Schoen is an architect and designer of modern interiors. Mr. Schoen is furniture ensembler and styling consultant for several manufacturing firms.
Schey, Robet
Mr. Schey has the oldest textile studio in America. He is one of the founders of AUDAC and believes in American industrial art by Americans and for Americans. Mr. Schey has one of the finest textile libraries in the United States.
Simonson, Lee
Mr. Simonson is President of AUDAC. He does not limit hes talents to the theater which is his metier. He designs furniture, lamps and textiles.
Steichen, Edward J.
Mr. Steichen began his career as a painter but forsook the brush for the camera. He is without peer in portraiture and fashion photography. Also he has done some interesting textile designs with the camera.
Urban, Joseph
Among Mr. Urban's most well-known works are the New School for Social Research, Central Park Casino, Ziegfield Theater, the Paramount Theater and Bath Tennis Club at Palm Beach. Mr. Urban has been doing innumerable settings for theatrical productions and motion pictures. He has received the degree of Architect at the Royal Art Academy in Vienna and the Polytechium of Vienna and several awards for his work in art and architecture.
Rahlson, Lydia
Mrs. Rahlson has done textiles, murals, wallpaper designs for several industrial concerns. She has won first prize for a silk design at the Art Alliance.
Van Nesson, Walter
Mr. Von Nesson is a designer and manufacturer of metal objects and lighting fixtures. He has recently designed metal fixtures for the Chase Brass and Copper Co.
Ulreich, Euard Buk
Mr. Ulreich is a designer and interior decorator. He designed and executed the Dudensing Galleries at 5 East 57th Street, New York City. He has done mural paintings for buildings in Chicago, Cleveland, and California. He is perhaps best known for his advertising and textile designs. Among collectors his woodcuts and examples of “mask painting” are widely known. Mr. Ulreich is known as “BUK” which is the fashion in which he signs his work.
Switzer, George
Mr. Switzer has been Appointed Art Counsel to the Continental Type Founder’s Ass’n, for whom he will design a series of presentations reflecting new American and European trends in the use of continental types, the first being on the “typewrite like” face “Girder”. Mr. Switzer has done the rug designs and presentation of a new seemingly seamless carpet for Collins & Aikman Corp.
Teague, Walter Dorwin
Mr. Teague has just completed the body designs of the new 200 h.p. Marmon Sixteen car which is being shown in spring in sales rooms throughout the country in early May. He is now working on the Marmon lines for 1932. He is retained by the East Kodak Co. in charge of all their products and just completed the new Eastman Kodak Retail shop at 745 Fifth Avenue. He designed the new calculating machine for Thomas Edison, Inc., and is engaged in designing glass containers for the Monongah Glass Company.
Wentz, Oscar W.
Mr. Wentz does styling ans sale promotion work for manufacturer of albums and other stationery items. He has recently formed a company called O.W. Wentz & Associates in order to public Modern Color Schemes created by him
Wright, Russel
Mr. Wright designs and manufactures modern metal ware such as bookends, lamps ash receivers, vases , occasional furniture all machine made. He has leased a new building to facilitate the manufacture of his creations. His objects are sold mainly to department stores such as, Lord & Taylor, Macy & Co., Stern Bros., Saks - Fifth Avenue, Marshall Field, Bullock Wiltshire. His the chief stylist for the Patchoque Plymouth Mills and Nottingham Lace Curtains.
Ferriss, Hugh
Mr. Ferrisa has had a fine influence on architecture thru his architectural renderings and imaginative drawings of New York sky scrapers which have been almost a prophecy of the future tendency in modern architecture.
Lohmann, Erika
Miss Lohman was one the original members of the Isadora Duncan school and was adopted by Isadora when she was four years old. Thinking and living during the impressionable years of her life in terms of emotions expressed in rhythms of the body, having none of the ordinary experiences and contacts of the normally brought up girl, it is little wonder that she has produced and art that has the naivete and emotion characteristic of the artists of an earlier and less sophisticated life. After the Isadora Duncan school she studied painting with Winold Reiss who gave her the necessary technical fundamentals. Miss Lohmann has just had an exhibition at the Argent Galleries of her paintings and drawing. He 12 murals appear in the St. George Hotel, Brooklyn.
Harrison, Willis S.
Mr. Harrison is a designer of furniture. He is the chief designer for Harrison-Dellaira, Inc., and Lessman, Inc. Among his recent works:- Mr. Harrison designed and decorated the apartment of Miss Katherine Brush and Mr. F. R. Stethenhem.
Corbett, Harvey Wiley
Mr. Corbett is one of the acknowledged leaders in the architectural world today. He is one of the chief architects of Radio City and the Chicago World’s Fair of 1933.
Weber, Kem
Mr. Weber has been devoting all his time for the past two years to perfecting a new type of wooden furniture construction, which he has now completed. One of the interesting features of this furniture is that it is designed to fit the pocketbook of the general public.
Wieselthier, Vally
Miss Wieselthier is the youngest of the Contemporary artists of international reputation who is designing for industry and fashion. She believes in working directly in the material for which she is designing and she has a knowledge of a score of different materials. Miss Wieselthier has designed the iron grill doors in the Squibb building, and her sculptures are on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her sculptures are worked “in the hollow” from the inside out.
Wright, Frank Lloyd
Mr. Wright is known as the “grand old man” of contemporary architecture. Mr. Wright is regarded by many as having initiated the modern architectural movement. He believes in fitting the house to its surroundsing, which is shown in his own home at Taliesin, Spring Freen, Wis. Mr. Wright built a hotel in Tokio, Japan, which has withstood all the earthquakes up to date.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 04-06_1931, 078-86. View Original
April 28, 1931
The important exhibition of Modern Decorative Art by the American Union of Decorative Artists and Craftsmen will open with a private view for exhibitors, Museum members and guests on the evening of May 1st and to the public on May 2nd, to continue on view through July 1st.
Graphic arts, applied arts in silks, silver, lamps, etc.; furniture not only new in design but of a new method of construction are among the exhibits. A large group of advanced artistic and commercial photography is shown by such masters as Steichen, BreuhI and Nicholas Muray.
New drawings, lithographs and woodcuts by Rockwell Kent will be shown publicly for the first time.
Kem Weber has arranged a group of rooms for a small house and is showing furniture with entirely new principles of construction.
This exhibition is ready for previews beginning Tuesday, April 28th.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 04-06_1931, 089. View Original
May 12, 1931
The American Federation of Arts will hold its annual convention at the Brooklyn Museum on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 18th, 19th and 20th. This is the first time in many years that the Federation has convened in the East.
350 leading educators, museum directors and others in allied professions will attend and will have as their headquarters the St. George Hotel in Brooklyn.
The complete program for the three day session follows:
Monday, May 19th
Registration at the Museum - 9:00 A.M.
Morning Session
9:30 A.M.
F. A. Whiting, President, the American Federation of Arts presiding
Address of Welcome - William Henry Fox, Director, The Brooklyn Museum
Reports of Committees
Appointment of Committees and Announcements
12:30 P.M. Luncheon at the Brooklyn Museum, with informal reports
Afternoon Session
2:00 P.M.
Subject: The Garden Arts
The Artist's Part in the Garden
1. The Landscape Architect - Arthur A. Shurcliff, Boston
2. The Sculptor - A. F. Brinckerhoff, New York
The Garden Club of America and Its Work For Gardens Large and Small - Martha Brookes Hutcheson
Community Cooperation in Garden Planning: The Fine Arts Garden and Garden Center in Cleveland - Mrs. Andrew Squire, Cleveland
Botanic Gardens and Art - Dr. C. Stuart Gager, Director Brooklyn Botanic Garden
4:30 P.M. Garden Party in Botanic Garden, guests of The Brooklyn Botanic Garden
7:00 P.M. Round Table Dinner, Hotel St. George, Brooklyn
The Evolution of the American Magazine of Art F. A. Whiting, Editor, Presiding
Reports by Associate Editors, followed by General discussion
Tuesday, May 19th
Morning Session
9:30 A.M Subjects: Art in Rural Life
A State University Reaches Out - Philip A. Parsons, Dean School of Applied Social Science, University of Oregon
A Virginia Minister's Experiment - Rev. C. M. Ford. Pendleton, Va.
Reaching Remote Rural Communities - Allen Eaton, Safe Foundation
Extension Work of the Brooklyn Museum at East Hampton, Long Island - Josiah P. Marvel, Brooklyn Museum
12:30 P. M. Luncheon at Brooklyn Museum, with informal reports
Afternoon Session
2:00 P. M. Subject: Can Education in Art Appreciation be Continuous?
Pre-Kindergarten Training: - Prof. Patty Hill Smith, Director Dept. of Kindergarten and First Grade Education, Teachers College, N. Y.
Earliest School Approaches - Speaker to be announced
The Adolescent Age - Forest Grant, Director of Art, N. Y. C.
The Responsibility of the College - Everett V. Meeks, Dean Dept. of Fine Arts, Yale University
Self Education After College - Mrs. Elizabeth Ward Perkins, Woodbury Observation School, Boston
4:00 P.M. Conference on Advisory Service, Leila Mechlin, Secretary and Director presiding
8:00 P. M. Brooklyn Museum open for Inspection of Exhibits
9:00 P. M. Talk on The Art of the Dance - John Martin, Editor of the Dance, N. Y. Times
Program of Dances - Charles Weidman and Company.
Wednesday, May 20th.
Morning Session
9:30 A. M. Subject: The Federation's Forward-Looking Program Future Plans for the Federation - F. A. Whiting, President
The Department of Advisory Service Looks Ahead - Leila Mechilin, Director
A New Department of Education is Formed – Director
Reports
Election of Directors
Other Business
Adjournment
12:00 M. Short meeting of Board of Directors
Afternoon Session
2:00 P.M. The New School for Social Research, New York
Joint Session with the Adult Education Association F.A. Whiting, presiding
Modernist Movement in Painting – Rene d’Harnoncourt
Modern Architecture – Philip Youtz
“Footlights Across America” – Kenneth Macogowan
2:30 P.M. Exhibition of Marionettes by the Puppet Players
4:00 P.M. Two one-act plays by the Drama Group of the Lighthouse Association of the Blind
4 to 6 P.M Visits to the homes of New York collectors
Special Exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum during the convention will be:
“Audac” (American Union of Decorative Artists and Craftsmen) First Exhibition
Persian Art
Hispano-Peruvian Arts
Russian National Art
Wiborg Loan Collection of Modern Paintings
Fifth Annual Exhibition of American Block Prints
Pictorial Drawing donw in the Elementary Schools
also the
Traveling Exhibition of the American Federation of arts
Twenty Portraits by Contemporary American Portrait Painters
Contemporary Oil Paintings, selected by L. S. Gillet (1st Show)
Color Reproductions selected by Allen Eaton
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 04-06_1931, 097-9. View Original
May 28, 1931
Due to the steadily increasing interest in the exhibition of Decorative Arts and Crafts presented by the American Union of Decorative Artists and Craftsmen at the Brooklyn Museum, the exhibition, which was scheduled to close on June 1, will be continued until September 1.
The popularity of the show is indicated by the attendance on Sunday, the 24th, when more than 5000 visitors were checked. Classes from practically all the art schools of New York and the vicinity, as well as hundreds of classes from the public schools of the borough, have studied the exhibits.
That the public is interested in the development of American design as expressed in this show has been evidenced by the great response of the press not only in the east but throughout the country as well and including numerous discussions in the foreign journals who profess to see in this collection a genuine indication of a development of a style that might actually be called American, without too great and obvious an influence from European sources.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 04-06_1931, 104. View Original
April 22, 1931
Opening May 1st with a private view and May 2nd to the public, The Brooklyn Museum will present the first large public exhibition of the American Union of Decorative Artists and Craftsmen, commonly known as "AUDAC". The exhibition will include house and office furnishings, textiles, decorative objects and applied arts in the advanced modern spirit. The leading men in their fields who will show work especially designed for this show include Frank Lloyd Wright, Lee Simonson, Rockwell Kent, Joseph Urban and Paul T. Frankl.
Of particular interest to the general public will be the suite of rooms designed by Kem Weber of Hollywood, Calif., for the investor of moderate means.
An important group of drawings and illustrative material by Rockwell Kent will be shown publicly for the first time.
Mr. Josiah P. Marvel, assistant to the Director of the Museum, through whose interest the exhibition was assembled, has supervised the elaborate installation which will take in a large section of the floor devoted to the Decorative Arts.
The exhibition will remain for two months and will undoubtedly be one of the most comprehensive of its kind ever attempted.
Gentlemen:
As the 26th is the last Sunday before the opening of the exhibition, we would greatly appreciate as much publicity as possible, as the show merits. The installation will probably be ready for press view by Tuesday, April 28th.
Thank you.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 04-06_1931, 077. View Original
April 28, 1931
Allen, William; Pewter pieces, bedspread, embroidered slips
Arens, Egmont H.; 15 lamps
Bernhard, Lucian; Textiles, typography
Bobritsky, Vladimir; 8 drawings (advertisements)
Bourke-White, Margaret; 46 photographs
Breuhl, Anton 10 photographs, 3 pieces of furniture
Brodovitch, Alexey; 17 pieces of graphic arts, 3 ceramics
Danielson, Emelie; 23 photographs
Deskey, Donald; Guest room
Dryden, Helen; Wooden boxes metal lighter, sketch for textile, automobile hardware
Ferriss, Hugh; 4 black and white drawings
Fischer, Bernard W.; Mirror, lamp shade, placque, candlesticks, 5 metal figurines
Frankl, Paul T.; Living room
Geddes, Norman-Bel; Model house
Georgi, Edwin; Advertising display
Gerlach, Edward; Photographs
Gnam, Hugo, Jr.; Woman's dressing room
Goodman, Percival; 1 model house
Green, Kneeland L.; 4 portraits, drawings
Hagopian, Vahan; 25 graphic art illustrations
Hammond, Natalie Hays; 5 sculptures, 1 window, 1 placque, 5 illustrations, 5 textile designs
Hoffman, Wolfgang and Pola; Office
Horwitt, Nathan George; Graphic art display
Howe & Lescaze; Mounted architectural photographs
Jacobson, Drexler A.; Book ends, ceramics, lamps
Jensen, Gustav B.; Advertising, booklets, mirror, boxes. silverware
Karasz, Mariska; Baby carriage set, 9 dresses, infants' dresses
Kay, Margaret; Metal lamps and mirrors
Keilin, Emily; Large panel of figures
Kent, Rockwell T.; Lithographs for "Beowulf", Drawings for "Birthday Book" , Drawings for "Venus and Adonis", Miscellaneous woodcuts and lithographs
Kern, Ellen M.; 10 graphical posters
Laughlin, Alice D.; 6 cover designs and woodcuts
Leonard, Robert L.; Fabric designs, jackets and book covers compact, original beauty advertisements
Loebel, Paul A.; Lamps, chairs, fire set in aluminum, steel and bronze
Lohman, Erika; Decorative textile panels, drawings
Magnussen. Eric; Wrought silver, precious stone carvings
Maurer, S. A.; Decorative painting
McClintock, Katherine; Vanity, secretary, table
Moor, John C.; House model, interior plan
Muray, Nickolas; 8 photographs
Muschenheim, W.; 14 photographs of interiors
Parsons, Lydia; 20 photographs
Rahlson, Lydia; 2 textile designs
Reeves, Ruth; Hand-blocked textiles
Reiss, Hans; Decorative, carved and painted panel
Reiss,Henrietta; Batik, jacket designs, textiles
Reiss, Winold; Graphic arts, interior photographs
Richards, Wynn; 32 photographs
Salmon, Walter L.; Chair, 3 tables (metal)
Schoen, Eugene; Arm chair, side chair, table (aluminum)
Seeds, Elise; Drawing
Simonson, Lee; Photographs of interiors, silk designs
Steichen, Edward; 25 photographs
Switzer, George; 9 units in graphic arts section
Tait, Agnes; Screen
Teague, Walter D.; 3 kodaks, 1 kodak cabinet
Thompson & Churchill; Photos of Bourjois Inc. interiors
Trout, Dorothy; 4 pieces hand-blocked linen
Ulreich, E. Buk; 6 advertising designs
Urban, Joseph; Model of suburban theatre, 9 drawings for New School of Social Research
Von Nessen, WaIter; 4 lamps, cIock, wall bracket, decorative objects in brass and copper
Von Alesch, Marianna; 7 pieces of blown glass figures
Weberp Kem; Living room, bed room, breakfast and dining rooms
Wentz, Oscar W.; System of modern color schemes
WieseIthier, Wally; Terra cotta figurines, 2 screens, window display figures
Williams, H. I.; 4 photographs
Wright, Russel ; Metal table, place plate, finger bowl, ash trays, vases, book ends, etc.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 04-06_1931, 090-2. View Original
May 2, 1931
In connection with its Annual Convention there, the American Federation of Arts is holding three exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum. One is a collection of fine colored reproductions selected by Mr. Allan Eaton of the Sage Foundation and displayed during the week op f the convention. The other two are traveling exhibitions and will be on view at the Brooklyn Museum from Thursday, May 7th for the rest of the month. One comprises twenty canvases by as many of our better known contemporary American portrait painters which is just returning from a circuit of the Middle West, South, and East; and the other is a more varied exhibition of fifty oil paintings, which, after its month's sojourn in Brooklyn, is just setting out on its travels.
The present policy of our president, Mr. Whiting, is to have each of our more important shows selected by one person. Thus the current Art of the Southwest Exhibition was assembled by our Secretary, Miss: Leila Mechlin: paintings from the 1929 Winter Exhibition of the National Academy of Design by Mr. George William Eggers of New York University: and the present show by Mr. Louis Bliss Gillet, formerly exhibition manager on the road for the Macbeth and Milch Galleries and now associated with the Exhibition Department of the American Federation of Arts. This practice, though the results may evidence the bias of one individual's taste, avoids the unfortunate omissions due to conflicts of jury, and makes for a certain homogeneity in an exhibition at least, and for range and variety proportionate to the breadth and catholicity of the inviter's taste.
The exhibition of fifty paintings was assembled in a somewhat different way than has been customary with the Federation. As long as its aim has always been to keep the standard of its exhibitions high and to raise it and increase their variety wherever possible, it occured to the assembler that we might get together a group of finer pictures and attain greater variety by inviting a few pictures from each of the main Annual Exhibitions of the year instead of selecting from any one exhibition. Accordingly, this was the procedure adopted. The Carnegie International, the National Academy of Design, the Corcoran Biennial, the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors, the Allied Artists, and the special Exhibition at the American Academy of Arts and Letters have all been drawn from. The pictures invited in this way were supplemented by others invited from the artists themselves or from outstanding one-man shows. The aim has been to present in this way as wide a cross section of current American painting as could be accomplished by an exhibition of fifty pictures. Moreover, it has been our special aim to have the modern idiom in painting competently and proportionally represented. So you will find such long-recognized masters as Charles H. Davis, Emil Carlsen, and Irving Wiles or the late Charles W. Hawthorne and the late Robert Henri, side by side with the prize¬winning painters of the year, such as Maurice Sterne, Leon Kroll, and Alexander Brook. We have made a point, furthermore, of having younger painters represented in the show as well as those of established reputation. We feel especially honored by the inclusion of Mr. Johansen's brilliant portrait of our artists approached only two or three have not met me with anything but the most courteous and cordial response. For this spirit above all on their part, as well as the material evidence of their generosity, for the hearty co-operation of our president and my fellow workers in the Federation, and for the kindly hospitality of the Brooklyn Museum, I want to take this occasion to express my sincere appreciation. The good will of all these will, I am sure, go with us as we pass to our trial.
LOUIS BLISS GILLET
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 04-06_1931, 094-6. View Original
June 3, 1931
To the Editor of the Art News
49 West 45th Street
New York, New York
Dear Sir:
We have noticed that this museum's mention in your current calendar is incorrect as it lists only two exhibitions, one of which was current in April and has long since been discontinued. We would particularly like the Wood Block Exhibition to be mentioned in this calendar for the benefit of Philadelphia readers.
A list of the current exhibitions that should be mentioned include:
Fifth Annual Exhibition of Block Prints assembled by the Ink Print Club of Philadelphia
International Summer Show opening June 12 through October 1st
AUDAC Exhibition of Decorative Arts and Crafts, continued because of its extreme popularity until September 1st
Exhibition of the newly acquired Collection of Russian National Art
The Wiborg Collection of Modern Masters
Will you please correct your list with the above additions.
Very sincerely yours,
E.L.M. TAGGART
Director, Publicity Department
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 04-06_1931, 111. View Original
March 30, 1931
The Brooklyn Museum announces an exhibition of Modern Decoration and Design by members of the American Union of Decorative Artists and Craftsmen commonly known as AUDAC. The exhibition which will open May 3 will include house and other furnishing, textiles, typography and book design and various angles of applied art in the modern tempo.
The members of the organization are all actively engaged in work of this kind and are all well known leaders in the field. One of the points of the exhibition is that the show is planned to appeal to the moderate pocketbook, it being felt that most modern collections of design in furniture and decoration that have been exhibited were of palatial sort and of little use to the average household.
AUDAC has been in existence for four year and recently published its first "Annual of American Design". This is the first large general exhibition of the society and among the well known exhibitors will be: Frank Lloyd Wright; Rockwell Kent; Lee Simonson; Joseph Urban; Paul T. Frankl author of "New Dimensions" and "Form and Reform"; Gustave Breuhl who besides photographs will show a sideboard, ceramic mask and a group of silver. These are only a few of the exhibitors and an indication of their varied exhibits.
Some of the larger projects executed by members will be shown by photographs. There will also be a large group of textile designs. This will be about the first opportunity the public has had to see a representative indication of the trend and importance of modern design among American craftsmen.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 01-03_1931, 060-61. View Original
April 1, 1931
Current Exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum include the following:
The first important exhibition of the American Union of Decorative Artists and Craftsmen, commonly known as AUDAC, will be presented on the third floor of the Museum from May first through July first. Modern decoration in both house and office furnishings will be shown, as well as group arrangements of specially designed furniture. Other exhibits include textile designs, applied art of various forms and an interesting section devoted to the graphic arts including an unusual collection of book illustration and design. All the exhibitors are members of the Union and are leaders in their individual fields
Until May 28h the Exhibition of Persian Art will be on view in the fourth floor galleries. The exhibition includes a good chronological review of Persian art in its various forms from 3500 B.C. until the present time. The effect on present day design is indicated. Exhibits include sculpture and bronzes of the very early periods, potteries of various leading schools and periods, textiles, rugs, jewelry and a splendid collection of miniatures. The Museum's collections are supplemented by loans from important private collectors and commercial houses.
The Hispano-Peruvian Collection of furniture, paintings and decorative objects will continue on view until autumn. The influence of Spanish art on the native design and the interesting combination of the two schools is shown in this group lent by Mrs. Frank Barrows Freyer.
On April 30th a practical demonstration of Indian handicraft will be presented by a group of native Navajo Indians in costume.
An Exhibition of Pictorial Drawings, work of the elementary classes in the public schools will be hung in the Library Gallery until April 30th.
The collection of Russian National Art is reinstalled in the basement of the museum and will remain on view here for an indefinite time. Examples of peasant craft-work in embroideries, woven materials, ikons, decorative objects and costumes. Particularly interesting for design both traditional and occasional.
The Mary Hoyt Wiborg loan collection of modern paintings will continue on view for some time. Representatives of such famous leaders as Leger, Vlaminck, Picasso, Chirico and Madeleine Luka are shown. There are also two highly interesting screens by Natalia Goncharova.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 04-06_1931, 075. View Original
May 2, 1931
The Brooklyn Museum announces an exhibition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Art to be shown from May 1st to July 1st. Seventy members of the American Union of Decorative Artists and Craftsmen will exhibit modern furniture, both domestic and office; fabrics; decorative paintings; photographs; textile designs; ensemble groups and various angles of typography and the graphic arts.
Among the well known artists and craftsmen who will be represented are Rockwell Kent, Joseph Urban, Paul T. Frankl, Lee Simonson, Frank Lloyd Wright, Edward Steichen, Hugh Ferris, Winold Reiss, Donald Deskey, Wolfgang and Pola Hoffman, Eugene Schoen, Kem Weber of California, Lucien Bernhard and Vally Wieselthier.
The American Union of Decorative Artists and Craftsmen is an organization of designers, architects, artists engaged in designing for commercial organizations, industrial firms, heads of stores and factories, and others interested in the industrial decorative and applied arts. Its members are practical modernists, applying their art within the limits of commercial practice, convinced that contemporary life demands an appropriate setting and that it is the work of the artist of all ages to mould the external world to suit the life of his time. The Union, commonly known as "AUDAC" has been in existance for four years and this year published its first ANNUAL OF AMERICAN DESIGN.
This will be AUDAC'S first large general exhibit of the work of its members, and will give the public its first opportunity to assess the present status of the decorative industrial arts in America. The work exhibited will be specially designed for this exhibit and will include the newest work of the most prominent decorative artists in the country.
Among the exhibits will be a complete set of furniture for a modern bungalow, designed to fit moderate pocketbooks by Kem Weber of Hollywood, Cal. Mr. Weber's furniture is constructed according to new and revolutionary methods of wood-working invented by the artist during two years of research and now first shown. Another exhibit, a modern room designed by Paul T. Frankl, author of "Form and Reform" and "New Dimensions", also includes new construction principles never previously used. Donald Deskey will exhibit a Guest Room, Gilbert Rohde a room, Wolfgang and Pola Hoffman, an office, Willis S. Harrison, a Bedroom, Alexander Kachinsky, a Reception office and Hugo Gnam, a boudoir.
A special feature of the exhibition will be a pre-publication view of illustrations by Rockwell Kent for a number of books on which he is now engaged. Mr. Kent leaves late in April for Greenland where he will spend eighteen months exploring, painting and writing. Among the work to be exhibited are. (1) Text and pictures of "A Birthday Book" to be published by Random House. (2) Lithographs for "Beowulf". (3) Lithographs for "Venus and Adonis" to be published by Leo Hart, Rochester, New York. (4) Forty illustrations for "April's Daughter" a book of poems by Selma Robinson to be published by Farrar & Rhinehart.
The modern photographs will be a feature of especial interest. Among the photographers who have already announced their intention to exhibit are Edward Steichen, Nickolas Muray, Anton Breuhl, Emelie Danielson, Kneeland L. Green and Arthur Gerlach. Ellen M. Kern, Vladimir Bobritsky and Henriette Reiss will exhibit decorative paintings.
Textile designs and fabrics will be exhibited by Emily Keilin, Mariska Karasz, Marguerita Mergentime, Robert L. Leonard, Ruth Reeves, Henriette Reiss, Lydia Rahlson, Robert Schey, Lee Simonson, Eduard Buk Ulreich.
Eugene Schoen will exhibit a sideboard and rug; Joseph Urban, new curtains and lighting fixtures; Anton Breuhl, a sideboard dressing table, radio cabinet; Alice Donaldson, silver screens; Paul Lobel, various pieces of metal work; Erik Magnussen, 56 silver pieces; Russell Wright, several chromium and pewter pieces, fibre rugs and net curtains; Gustav Jensen, kitchen sink, silver spoons, ceramic mask, porcelain fixture, box; Helen Dryden, boxes, cold cream jar, lighter; Walter Kantack, utensils, lighting fixtures, decorative accessories; Egmont H. Arens, several new lamps; Bernard Fischer, smaIl table lamps, a floor lamp; Vahan Hagopian, 2 palm tree stands, 1 pair andirons, an end table; Margaret Kay, lamps, tables, flower pots; Walter Von Nessen, book ends, candle sticks, lamps, vases, tables; Walter L. Salmon, metal furniture.
Some of the larger work of AUDAC members vvill be exhibited by photographs. Among those thus exhibiting are Howe & Lescaze, Frederick Kiesler, Henry Churchill, Percival Goodman, Winold Reiss, Eduard Buk Ulreich, Walter Von Nessen, Vahan Hagopian, Lee Simonson, and John J. Moore
Among the graphic art exhibits will be a series of advertisements treated in the modern manner by Ellen M. Kern, Henriette Reiss, S. A. Maurer, Vahan Hagopian, and others. Vladimir Bobritsky, Lucian Bernhard, Robert L. Leonard and Gustav Jensen will also have exhibits in this section.
Mariska Karasz and Marguerita Mergentime will exhibit various fabrics and accessories. Vally Wieselthier will exhibit several interesting ceramics.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 04-06_1931, 067-70. View Original
May 2, 1931
The Brooklyn Museum announces an exhibition of Modern Decoration and Design by members of the American Union of Decorative Artists and Craftsmen commonly known as AUDAC. The exhibition which will open May 3 will include house and other furnishing, textiles, typography and book design and various angles of applied art in the modern tempo.
The members of the organization are all actively engaged in work of this kind and are all well known leaders in the field. One of the points of the exhibition is that the show is planned to appeal to the moderate pocketbook, it being felt that most modern collections of design in furniture and decoration that have been exhibited were of palatial sort and of little use to the average household.
AUDAC has been in existence for four year and recently published its first "Annual of American Design". This is the first large general exhibition of the society and among the well known exhibitors will be: Frank Lloyd Wright; Rockwell Kent; Lee Simonson; Joseph Urban; Paul T. Frankl author of "New Dimensions" and "Form and Reform"; Gustave Breuhl who besides photographs will show a sideboard, ceramic mask and a group of silver. These are only a few of the exhibitors and an indication of their varied exhibits.
One of the important features of the show will be complete interior furnishings for a modern cottage, designed by Kem Weber of Hollywood, California, for the investor of moderate means. Mr. Weber's exhibition will also disclose new methods of furniture construction of a kind not shown before. Donald Deskey will exhibit a guest room; William and Paula Hoffman an office; Alexander Kachinsky a reception office, and Willis Harrison a bedroom, and a room by Gilbert Rohde.
Textile designers and fabrics will be exhibited by Emily Keilin, Mariska Karasz, Marguerita Mergentime, Robert L. Leonard, Ruth Reeves, Henrietta Reise, Lydia Rahlson, Robert Sekey, Lee Simonson, Edward Buk Ulreich.
Among the graphic art exhfbits will be a series of modern advertisments executed by Ellen M. Kern, Henrietta Reiss, Vahan Hugopian, Lucien Bernhard and Gustave Jensen. Also in this section will be featured a group of illustrations by Rockwell Kent for the as yet unpublished "Beowoulff" and other books.
Some of the larger projects executed by members of the association will be displayed by means of photographs.
This will be about the first opportunity the public has had of seeing the immense progress American craftsmen have made in the field of modern design. All the work shown has been done in America by American workers and designed primarily for actual use in the household of average means.. The history of furniture has always reflected the life of its contemporaries and this collection may be seen as a true expression of present day modes of life.
A quotation from the prospectus of the organization gives the aims of the society clearly, "AUDAC is an organization of designers, architects, artists engaged in designing for commercial organizations, industrial firms, heads of stores, and manufacturing establishments and all other persons interested in the industrial decorative and applies art.
"AUDAC is working for the elevation of standards in contemporary design and for the development of a STYLE rather styles.
"AUDAC is convinced that contemporary life demands an appropriate setting and that it is the work of the artist of all ages to mould the external world to suit the life of his time.
"To awaken the public to the necessity for change in the decorative and industrial arts, AUDAC participates in expositions, publishes a year book and circulates an exhibition of photographs and designs of its members' work. Its membership includes the most outstanding men and women in the decorative arts and architecture who are giving our environment a new and appropriate appearance.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 04-06_1931, 063-5. View Original
