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E l i z a b e t h P e l i c e l l a
T h is fa ll, th e M u s e u m o f A r ts
an d D e s ig n o p e n s its la te s t,
m u ch a n tic ip a te d in sta llm e n t
o f T h e C e n te n a r y P r o je c t, a
se rie s o f e x h ib itio n s th a t in v e s -
tig a te A m e r ic a n c r a ft o f th e
2 0
th c e n tu ry . “ C r a f t in g M o d -
e rn is m : M id c e n t u r y A m e r ic a n
A r t an d D e s ig n ” fe a tu re s
w o r k s in a v a r ie ty o f m ed iu m s
b y m o re th an
1 6 0
a rtists an d
d e s ig n e rs w h o e x p lo r e c ra ft,
d e s ig n , an d th e tra n sfo rm a tio n
o f A m e r ic a n life fro m
1 9 4 5
th ro u g h th e
1 9 6 0
s. A s su ch ,
it p ro m ise s to b e th e m o st c o m -
p re h e n s iv e s h o w on p o s tw a r
c r a ft to d a te .
Algernon Miller,
T r e e o f H o p e
///painted
steel sculpture, 1972.
Adam Clayton Powell
Jr. Blvd. at W. 131st St.
A proud evocation of
Harlem’s original wish-
ing tree in the green
space bisecting Adam
Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.,
this mod “tree” is by
an artist represented in
MAD’s “Global Africa”
show who also redesign-
ed the new Frederick
Douglass Circle.
►
Lenore Tawney,
N a t i v i t y i n N a t u r e
tapestry, i960.
Interchurch Center,
475 Riverside at 120th St.
This magnificent early
work by the late weaver
presents a harmonious
composition of texture
and color that can be
enjoyed in the ground-
floor chapel’s narthex,
with Israel Levitan’s
“starlight” ceiling.
Max Spivak,
glass mosaic, 1948.
W. 104th St. & Broadway
(northwest corner).
Colorful, organic shapes
by the self-proclaimed
“mosaic craftsman”
seem meant for Ben &
Jerry’s ice-cream shop,
but were, in fact, made
for Rikcr’s Cafeteria,
which originally had an
interior mosaic. Quick
action by a preservation-
ist saved the exterior.
Henry Varnum Poor,
C e n t r a l P a r k
ceramic
tile mural, 1954.
Klingcnstcin Memorial
Pavilion at Mt. Sinai
hospital, 1176 Fifth
Ave., just above 98th St.
►This wall-sized mural
shows the early studio
potter’s knack for the
large-scale, honed in the
1930s, and skillful sur-
face handling of his late
career. The playful sub-
ject was intended to dis-
tract sick children and
worried caregivers.
Costantino Nivola,
sand-cast concrete
playground, 1965.
Stephen Wise Houses,
enter on 90th or 91st St.
between Amsterdam
and Columbus Aves.
•The Sardinian-born
sculptor’s plump horsics,
sparkling with marble
dust and augmented by
his fountains, a large
figure (looming like a
watchful nanny, accord-
ing to
T i m e
magazine),
and abstract sgraffito
murals enliven otherwise
bland public housing.
Adolph Gottlieb,
stained glass windows,
1954. Rita and George
M. Shapiro House,
Park Avenue Synagogue,
87th St. & Madison Ave.
^The abstract expression-
ist painter’s “pictographs”
represent traditional
emblems, religious ritual,
biblical events and holi-
days, in colors that the
Bible says God com-
manded Moses to use for
the Tabernacle. Made for
the 1954 Milton Steinberg
House; several can be
seen at street level in its
1980 replacement.
To Hudson River Valley
The Russel Wright
Design Center
Garrison, New York.
Well worth the day trip,
the Hudson Highlands
home of Russel Wright
effectively demonstrates
the “easier living” advo-
cated by the designer
and his wife, Mary, who
revolutionized American
homes with tableware,
furniture, and textiles.
Russel Wright photo:
©
tarawingphotography.com /
P a s tu r e
photo:
©
2011 The Josef
and An ni Albers Foundation,
Artists Rights Society, New
York / Hemmarck tapestry
photo: Andrew dc Lory /
Hofmann mural: Courtesy of
Ameringer McEnery Yohe
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a m e r i c a n c r a f t
o c t / n o v n
