The Renwick's Second Empire-style building, a National Historic Landmark, was designed by architect James Renwick Jr. in 1859 and completed in 1874.
The gallery is a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and features one of the finest collections of American craft in the United States. Its collections, exhibition program and publications highlight the best craft objects and decorative arts from the 19th century to the present.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, as first lady, was instrumental in restoring the building to its former glory in the late 60s, reopening to the public in 1972.
The current exhibition 40 under 40, celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Renwick as well as examining the expanding role of the handmade in contemporary culture. All artists were born since 1972, the year the gallery opened to the public.
Erik Demaine
One of the many highlights of the exhibition included the paper folding of mathematician/ glassblower/artist, Dr Erik Demaine, a professor of computer science at MIT, who at age twenty was hired as the youngest faculty member in the history of the institution.
For more of his work go to:
http://erikdemaine.org/
Christy Oates
On Feb 1st 2013 I attended an inspirational presentation at the Renwick Gallery by designer Christy Oates, part of the 40 under 40 exhibition. Oates is a furniture designer/maker, based in San Diego and working predominantly with laser cut plywood.
Folding Furniture
Her folding furniture series was developed while she was still a graduate student and is a response to life in a small apartment. The series includes chairs, stools, tables and lamps that all store flat against the when not in use.
The E-Waste Project
The E-Waste Project was inspired by a visit to an electronic waste recycling facility. Oates shot photographs of computer waste then cropped an image of assorted circuit boards to use as a repeating pattern.
Kaleidoscope Algorithm
Her series Kaleidoscope Algorithm is based on computer image manipulation algorithms translated to wood marquetry. The series of 30 artworks are based on images from corresponding top Google search trends for each day in September 2011. Each segment of the trend image is divided into six corresponding veneers from dark to light.
For more of her work go to:
http://christyoates.com
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