Monday, 15 August 2005 | Levent OZLER

X: A Decade of Collecting

Opens Sept 1 at the Wolfsonian

'X: A DECADE OF COLLECTING' EXHIBITION OPENS SEPTEMBER 1, 2005-JANUARY 15, 2006
Collection Strengthened Through Ten Years of Gifts and Acquisitions

The Wolfsonian-Florida International University presents the exhibition X: A Decade of Collecting from September 1, 2005 to January 15, 2006. The exhibition is an overview of the growth of The Wolfsonian's collection since its opening 10 years ago. X: A Decade of Collecting highlights more than 200 objects obtained through donation or acquisition that add depth and breadth to the collection's strong foundation of art and design. This celebration of The Wolfsonian's first decade provides an opportunity to reflect on its growth while pointing to signs of exhibitions to come.

Some of the exhibition highlights include Cass Gilbert's dramatic ornamental finial, a gift of the Chase Manhattan Corporation, from the 1913 Woolworth Building-New York's so-called Cathedral of Commerce, which combined Gothic design with modern technology; Alexander Z. Kruse's searing satirical portraits of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Adolf Hitler, a gift from Mrs. Kathreen Kruse in memory of Martin Alexander Kruse; and vibrant Cuban graphics from the 1920s to 1950s, gifted by Vicki Gold Levi.

"X: A Decade of Collecting provides an amazing opportunity to examine and evaluate our collection's growth since 1995. From a curatorial standpoint, it is exciting to survey the group as a whole, see how the shape of the collection has evolved, and where it can grow in the future. These new objects-whether from generous donors and through select purchases-have helped to build upon already strong holdings and develop more modest parts of the collection. A single gift can help fill a particular gap or open a whole new area of opportunity," said Sarah Schleuning, curator of the exhibition.

The Wolfsonian's collection originated with thousands of objects privately held by Mitchell Wolfson Jr., which was subsequently donated to Florida International University. Over the past 10 years, the collection has grown from the gifts of many private donors and carefully determined acquisitions. Comprised of 100,000 objects including paintings, furniture, sculptures, works on paper, ephemeral items, rare books and graphic design produced primarily in Europe and North America from 1885 to 1945, the collection encourages a multidisciplinary approach of viewing objects as both agents and expressions of change. With its exhibitions and educational programs, The Wolfsonian continues to offer the public an exploration of the social, political and technological allusions contained in the design of everyday objects.

"We opened our doors 10 years ago with a remarkable collection assembled by Mitchell Wolfson Jr. Our approach to interpreting and presenting those materials has inspired many people, including other collectors of modern material culture. Many of them have made important contributions to our collection. This new exhibition is a celebration of the importance of their generosity," said Cathy Leff, museum director.

Jean Dunand's lacquered bas-relief panels based on designs displayed in the S.S. Normandie significantly enhance the institution's French holdings. The two recently restored Art Moderne works, a gift from the Frederick and Patricia Supper Foundation, Palm Beach, Florida, were a private commission based on the "Hunting" sequence from the mural series Man's Games and Pleasures, which was created for the first-class smoking room of the opulent ocean liner.

While these majestic panels provide a major showpiece for the institution, other gifts are equally as provocative and essential to the museum's growth. Donations by Robert J. Young of rare periodicals and other materials dealing with physical culture in America have substantially helped the museum to build additional collection areas and present interesting new avenues of exploration.

Collecting for specific projects, such as future exhibitions, also helps focus the needs of the institution and shapes many decisions regarding accessioning. One area the museum continues to pursue is the role of industrial designers in shaping the form and function of a new product. The home provided many opportunities to create new and "indispensable" products for a burgeoning marketplace. Among the new acquisitions: a selection of American Modern dinnerware by Russel Wright, whose elegant, organic styles ushered in a new attitude toward home entertaining, a gift from Jeffrey S. Millwater; a mid-1930s pod-like aluminum potato baker, a gift from David Saltonstall; and a streamlined chrome and plastic Fairfax canister vacuum cleaner, a gift from Martin K. Webb and Charles L. Venable. These recent acquisitions, along with several others, add variety to the diverse holdings in the area of American industrial design and are expected to play a prominent role in shaping an upcoming exhibition exploring this topic. As The Wolfsonian embarks on its next decade, X: A Decade of Collecting is a benchmark inspiring the institution to nurture ongoing relationships while actively fostering new ones.

About The Wolfsonian-Florida International University
The Wolfsonian is a museum and research center that uses objects to illustrate the persuasive power of art and design, to explore what it means to be modern, and to tell the story of social, political and technological changes that have transformed the world. The 100,000 artifacts that comprise the Wolfsonian's collections range from fine art, graphic design and political propaganda to furniture, rare books and ephemeral materials such as postcards and travel brochures.

The Wolfsonian is located at 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, Fla. Admission is $7 adults; $5 seniors, students, and children six-12; free for Wolfsonian members, State University System of Florida staff and students with ID, children under six, and Miami Beach residents with ID. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday from noon-6pm; Thursday and Friday from noon-9pm; and is closed on Wednesday. Contact us at 305.531.1001 or visit us online at www.wolfsonian.org.

The Wolfsonian receives ongoing support from the State of Florida; Department of State; Division of Cultural Affairs; Florida Arts Council; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs through the Cultural Affairs Council; the Mayor and the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners; the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach and the Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council; Crispin Porter + Bogusky; Dacra and the Miami Design District; Continental Airlines, the preferred airline of The Wolfsonian; the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation; Artécity, for inspired condo living; Carnival Foundation; and RBK Productions.

http://www.wolfsonian.fiu.edu