The exhibition detailed in this book opened January 16 at the Allentown (Pensylvania) Art Museum and runs through April 9, 2000. This was my first and very pleasant visit to this museum. While I was familiar with many of these design icons (mainly chairs) it was fun to see original bent-wood Hoffmans; pony, latex, carbon fiber, stainless wire and goose-down filled leather adapted to the human rear; and perhaps the most striking if surely uncomfortable object, the MN-01 LC1, Lockheed Lounge, by Marc Newson (imagine reclining on the fuselage of a DC3). Most appealing to me must be the Supperleggera (Super-lightweight) #699 by Gio Ponti, manufactured by Cassina. Ebonized triangular ash legs with a delicately woven cane seat must surely reward the sitter with a feeling of some early Ferrari. Stupidly, the items which are still produced are not available to try out--it is all "no touch." I flipped through this '100 Masterpieces' book and it looks thorough, with detailed text to accompany the excellent photos. On a related note I recently read and enjoyed Chairman Rolf, produced by Tibor Kalman, which depicts the eccentric genius behind Vitra, Rolf Fehlbaum. Also on exhibit at this museum are: 1. Harry Bertoia's Monoprints. He worked with Charles and Ray Eames and later headed Knoll's design department....his chair #422 is in the Vitra exhibit. 2. the Little Library designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (the living room sits in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY). Allentown Art Museum, Fifth & Court Streets, Allentown, PA 610.432-4333, ext.10.
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