Dallas buyers just can’s get enough Midcentury Modern design—our recent post about a pristine MCM home in the Disney Streets had viewers swooning over its retro style and authentic feel.
Tomorrow, art and design enthusiasts have the chance to come out and see one of the 20th century’s noted fiber artists in one of Dallas’ top galleries that is devoted to midcentury modern furniture and design.
20cDesign is presenting a “Celebrate Fall” party featuring the early work of noted fiber artist Jane Knight. This collection of wall hangings and fiber sculptures hasn’t been seen since 1977 when it was presented at the San Francisco Galleria Design Center Exposition “Art Fabric ’77: The Contemporary American Tapestry.”
“We acquired these works directly from the personal collection of the Knight family where they were recently found in storage,” says Barry Gream, founder of 20cDesign gallery in the Dallas Design District.
The interest in midcentury modern architecture that has been trending for the past several years has also rekindled an interest in textiles and crafts from the same period. However, these are not your mother’s macramé pot hangers from the 70s. Knight (1928-2013) handcrafted her sculptural wall hangings and artworks by wrapping hundreds of yards of colored woolen strands around heavy lengths of jute to create sophisticated decorative pieces.
She received her BFA in Art from the University of Michigan and was personal friends with some of the iconic architects of the 20th century — Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames and George Nelson — and held dinner parties at her home which they attended. Knight also taught in the theater department at the prestigious Cranbrook School.
“The rich fall colors of these pieces make a perfect backdrop in the gallery to celebrate the change in season and look forward to cooler temperatures,” says gallery co-founder Ryan Rucker.
This festive free evening with delicious sips and bites is from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the 20cDesign gallery, 1430 N. Riverfront Blvd. An RSVP is requested to [email protected].
