Art and design institutions worldwide may have closed indefinitely to help slow the spread of coronavirus, but that hasn’t stopped museums, galleries, and fairs from developing virtual events that can be enjoyed from the comfort of one’s own home. Below, AD PRO rounds up the industry happenings—from exhibition openings to educational sessions—that are worth tuning into this month. Check out the AD PRO calendar for more.
Learn: Modernism Week Online Experience
All things modern art, architecture, and design are the centerpiece of Modernism Week. In advance of the event’s April showing in Palm Springs, California, the celebration heads online for a monthlong virtual program filled with activities that bring its amusing tours and historical accounts to a broader audience. Enjoy a tour of the city’s significant architecture from the virtual front seat of a 1966 Mustang convertible, or stream films the delve into the backstories of Philip Johnson’s Glass House, Albert Frey’s Aluminaire House, and Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House, among other icons of modern design. Also included in the ticketed event is the CEU-accredited Fast Forward series, which asks more than 25 industry professionals to render the design future of Palm Springs.
February 1–28
Inside the House of Cardin, one of the many residences featured in Modernism Week’s Signature Homes Tour.
Photo: Lance Gerber courtesy Modernism WeekAttend: Kohler@Home
Bath outfitter Kohler presents the inaugural Kohler@Home, a virtual event introducing its new product lineup for 2021, as well a dialogue series covering the important topics concerning industry leaders right now. Join designers Amy Lau and Courtney McLeod, among others, in conversations regarding what’s new and next in kitchen and bath design, from the impact of COVID-19 to the technology informing the future of the home’s hardest-working spaces.
February 2–3
Learn: MoAD Presents “Art History Crash Course: Art and Artists of the African Diaspora”
California College of the Arts professor and author of Making Race: Modernism and ‘Racial Art’ in America, Jacqueline Francis, Ph.D., leads the Museum of the African Diaspora’s four-part series recognizing the legacies of artists and art movements of the Black Diaspora. Tune in to the final two sessions, on February 3 and 10, which will survey the design contributions of creatives of the Black Atlantic, a geographical makeup consisting of Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Europe; and examine their influence on concurrent art eras of the past.
February 3–10
Learn: Masterpiece London Presents “Encountering Beauty through the Material World”
Beginning this month, Masterpiece London will host a series of four online discussions that challenge art enthusiasts to reconnect with the way they see and explore various materials, namely marble, wood, pigment, metal, and ceramics and precious stones. The materials will get a dedicated program, with in-depth conversations on their material properties and historical significance held by expert conversationalists, creatives, and storytellers in design from around the globe. In addition to the online panels, the digital event will present podcasts and films from Masterpiece’s exhibitors and art historians—all leading up to the organization’s annual show in June. Visit the online event schedule for specific panel dates.