VENETIAN GLASS: 20th CENTURY ITALIAN GLASS FROM THE OLNICK SPANU COLLECTION AT THE MUSEUM OF ARTS & DESIGN
September 13, 2000 - October 29, 2000 and
November 21, 2000 - January 7, 2001
September 1, New York -- The Museum of Arts & Design will present Venetian Glass: 20th Century Italian Glass from the Olnick Spanu Collection, a comprehensive overview of glass art, craft, and design in Italy in the 20th century. Organized by the Museum of Arts & Design, Venetian Glass is the public premiere of the noted private collection of Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu, and will be on exhibit from September 13, 2000 through October 29, 2000 and November 21, 2000 through January 7, 2001 at the Museum and thereafter on tour in the US and abroad. Amassed with vision and passion over 12 years, the collection today numbers 400 works, of which 250 masterpieces will be presented, dating from the early 1900s to the present. Assistance for the exhibition and its programs has been provided by VENINI and the Italian Cultural Institute. Additional support has been provided by Phillips Auctioneers.
Venetian Glass showcases visually arresting works in a wide variety of forms, colors and patterns, demonstrating that 20th century Italian glass attained a remarkable range in the history of the medium. The exhibition is especially rich in works from the mid-20th century "golden years", when artists and designers of international renown joined forces with such legendary Muranese factories as Venini, Seguso, and Barovier & Toso. Working closely with these cadres of skilled master glass craftsmen, the artists created a uniquely Italian style based on traditions of excellence, but inspired by a modern force and sensitivity. In addition to leading Italian designers Carlo Scarpa, Flavio Poli, and Paolo Venini, the post-war period also saw an influx of talented artists from other countries, including Thomas Stearns and Toots Zynsky from the United States, and Tapio Wirkkala from Finland.
Museum of Arts & Design director Holly Hotchner remarks, "We are honored to present the Olnick Spanu collection to the public for the first time. The formation of this collection has been a story of passion and perseverance as the collectors assembled works that beautifully record the history of Italian art glass. We know that our visitors will be thrilled to see this magnificent collection, presented to its best advantage by Lella and Massimo Vignelli's brilliant installation."
David McFadden, chief curator at the Museum of Arts & Design, says, "The exhibition Venetian Glass is a major highlight of the Museum's continuing exploration of the creative process that brings together art and industry. The works selected for this exhibition are documents of the expanded definition of craft and craftsmanship as the backbone of innovation in art and design. Individually, they express the personal vision of their creators, while in their technical virtuosity they underscore the artistic and cultural values embedded in fine craftsmanship."
Highlighted in the exhibition will be rare early 20th century art nouveau-inspired works created at the firm of Artisti Barovier, and a stunning selection of works by this distinguished family's most talented member, Ercole Barovier, who designed glass from 1919 to 1972. Unique to the Olnick Spanu collection and shown for the first time in the U.S. will be more than 70 masterpieces, representing over a half-century of creative work by Carlo Scarpa, arguably the leading genius of modern Italian architecture and design. Other works are: an amusing flock of abstract glass birds created at the Vistosi company in the 1960s, familiar works by the prolific Venini firm, including their famous "handkerchief" vases, and modern works by Venetian resident Yoichi Ohira. Rare examples of work by artists such as Dino Martens, Ludovico de Santillana, Fulvio Bianconi, Paolo Venini, Flavio Poli and Archimede Seguso are memorable additions to this unique collection.
The internationally-acclaimed New York-based Italian designers Lella and Massimo Vignelli have been invited to design both the exhibition and the accompanying publication. Recognized for their sensitivity and innovation in fields ranging from interiors, furniture, and ceramics, to award-winning graphic design, the Vignellis' personal love of glass is certain to make the exhibition design and accompanying volume memorable visual experiences.
The exhibition will be accompanied by the publication, Venetian Glass: 20th Century Italian Glass from the Olnick Spanu Collection, a comprehensive overview of 20th century Italian glass art, and the first book to present a heretofore unknown private collection of Italian glass masterworks. Included are statements by many artists seen in the exhibition: Toots Zynsky, Yoichi Ohira, Christian Bianchin, Tobia Scarpa and others. The foreword is by Museum of Arts & Design Director Holly Hotchner, with essays by David Revere McFadden, the Museum's Chief Curator, Suzanne Frantz, former curator of 20th Century glass at the Corning Museum of Glass and renowned glass historian Marino Barovier, who compiled the bibliographies and historical photographic documentation of the work. The work contains histories of Venetian glass firms, biographies of artists and a glossary of technical terms. Support for this publication has been received from Furthermore, the publication program of The J.M. Kaplan Fund, and the Italian Cultural Institute.