November 9 2001
by Ken Johnson
What was modernism? A historical era?
A period style? An ideology? A religion? A state of mind?
It was all that and more.The age that extended (depending
on whom you ask) from sometime after the Civil War to sometime
after World War 2 was one of scientific and technological
optimism,of expanding personal and social freedoms and accelerating
material abundance.It was a time when a future of unparalleled
prosperity and unlimited possibility seemed at hand. That
the age of Modernism came to an end is by no means universally
accepted,but for many who think it did,its demise coincided
with the war in Vietnam. Since then, they argue, the world
has been one of diminishing expectations, of uncertainty and
doubt. It seems no longer clear, especially now, that all
problems must succumb to technological innovation. "Modernism:
A century of Art and Design" is not an exhibition overseen
by a curator, but a lavish antiques fair. it consists of 54
American and European dealers offering high-end artifacts,
from Arts and Crafts works of the late 19th century to Art
Deco objects from the 1920's, from futuristic furniture of
the 50's to funky Menphis-style designs of the 1980's. Still,
it is hard to contemplate the beatiful material culture of
Modernism and the faith in human reason and creativity it
embodies without thinking about the different, darker and
scarier mood of today. More to the point, of the five autumn
fairs annually produced in New York by Sanford L. Smith &
Associates, "Modernism" is the only one that has
not been canceled this year. It was denied access to its usual
quarters, the Seventh Regiment Armory, which is occupied by
the National Guard. But its new site, in a white cast-iron
building on 23rd Street off Fifth Avenue, is a fine substitute.
There is plenty of space, and though some 20 fewer dealers
than usual are present, the show still abounds in beautiful
objects tastefully displayed, including furniture, ceramics,
glass, jewerly, posters and fine art. In fact,there is far
too much to absorb in just one visit. A good way to start
is to stroll around, zero in on whatever catches your eye
and then move on. Some of the more remarkable pieces include
an adorable Wurlitzer baby grand piano with half circle body
and a double-wing "butterfly" lid, at the Skyscraper
booth; a 1905 mahogany and brass clock in the form of a rustic
house, at James infante; a flamboyant Art Nouveau vase with
sinuously twisted handles and an almost psychedelic surface
of flowers and iridescent green glaze, at Turn of the Century;
and, at Sarah Latham-kearns, a cheerful epitome of 60's Pop
sensibility - a long black dress designed by Rudi Gernreich
and appliqued with brightly patterned flowers and circles.
After you initial survey, you might want to delve deeper into
certain specialties. Chat with a few dealers and you may learn
more than you ever thought you would know about, say, Alchymia,
the italian predecessor of the Memphis design group (at R
20th Century) or about the American Craft Movement furniture
of george Nakashima, Sam mallof and Wendell castle (at Moderne).Frank
Rogin is presenting an exhibition of furniture by the French
designer Rene' Gabriel. In the 1930's Gabriel gave Arts and
Crafts design a lighter,more delicate flair and his name deserves
to be better known.
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