Fashion Redefined on Saturday, April 6th was an exciting all-day event dedicated to eco fashion! The event focused on innovative ideas presented by the current exhibition at the Goldstein Museum of Design, "Redefining, Redesigning Fashion: Designs for Sustainability," co-curated by Marilyn DeLong, Barbara Heinemann, and Kathryn Riley. This exhibit explores the creation of sustainable clothing by designers who respect environmental, economic, and social concerns.

Saturday, April 6th was a day of workshops and presentations for people of all ages. The opening ceremony brought everyone together for a warm welcome and included an interactive story by guest presenter "Auntie Beverly" as well as a discussion of the five themes of sustainability by the curators of the exhibit.These themes are: Emotional Connections, Repurposed Materials, Valuing Resources, Alternative Construction and Techniques, and Versatility. These themes were celebrated in different ways by each of the workshops and activities of the day.

There was a "Sustainability Boutique" filled with fun designs for sale by the workshop instructors and University of Minnesota graduate students. There was a clothing swap and mid-day fashion show sponsored by Sol Inspirations, a local non-profit organization that advocates responsible and sustainable practices.

The diverse offering of workshops ranged from Bengla (mud) dye techniques to a "Project Upcycle" sewing challenge to a discussion focused on sustainability in the industry and much more!

Everyone who participated in our "Day to Celebrate Eco Fashion" had the chance to learn new creative skills and ideas focused on sustainability and its importance. They also were able to find new ways to incorporate sustainable practices into everyday life. And they also, certainly, had fun!

Deadline for nominations - December 30, 2012

The Goldstein Museum of Design is pleased to announce an exciting new award for emerging designers - the Margot Siegel Design Award. This annual award will be presented to a designer for excellence and innovation in his/her field, but who has yet to receive major recognition. The goal of the Siegel Design Award is to propel new design through acknowledgement of outstanding ideas, public service, and collaborative thinking.

The winner of the Siegel Design Award will receive an all-expense paid trip to the Twin Cities to speak at the College of Design and be presented with a check for $2,000. Margot Siegel, a longtime supporter of the Goldstein Museum of Design, established this fund to recognize the importance of design in enhancing the quality of life.

The Selection Committee will review all nominations and the Siegel Design Award winner will be notified in early 2013. Deadline for submissions is December 30, 2012.

Please consider nominating a designer for this award and forward this call to colleagues and friends. See the attached document for details on the nomination process. Contact me at lnelsonm@umn.edu or 612.624.3292 with questions.

This exciting new program honors emerging designers with good ideas that can shape the future. Send in your nominations for the Margot Siegel Design Award, then watch for the announcement next spring of the program featuring the winner!

Yours in design,

Lin Nelson-Mayson, GMD director

GMD's Jean McElvain and Kathleen Campbell were guest lecturers on Wednesday March 28, for Prof. Tasoulla Hadjiyanni's class, History of Interiors and Furnishings: 1750 to Present. They focused on arts and crafts era textiles, decorative arts objects, and costume. McElvain and Campbell both gave short lectures about designs during the period, then allowed students to get up close with pieces from the collection (without touching, or course).

Two standout pieces were a pair of tall ceramic Rookwood candleholders from 1919, a Gift of Marian Ortolf Bagley. Rookwood was founded by Maria Longworth Nichols in 1880, and spent the first several years perfecting glazes. Matte green and blue glazes like this became a hallmark for arts and crafts pottery at the turn of the century. In addition to vases and other pot-like vessels, Rookwood produced tiles, drinking mugs, paper weights, book ends, and figurines. In 1883 Rookwood was featured at the Chicago World's Fair where it won a "highest award," giving Rookwood international recognition.

McElvain and Campbell were happy to teach class for a day, giving students a diverse experience with design history. You too can get up close with the collection! You can schedule a group visit to our Research Center, visit our current exhibitions, or find which membership levels offer behind the scenes tours. GMD produces high quality programs, supports collection preservation, and educates the public through object-based learning. What will you do during your next visit?

*Correction: this is not a Roseville piece, as stated in the winter 2012 GMD Newsletter

by Caitlin Cohn

Eva Zeisel, who was 105 when she died December 30, 2011, was one of the 20th century's most significant ceramics designers. Her work spanned over eighty years, starting from her very early twenties until the end of her life. Her aunt's pottery collection inspired her to become a ceramicist and she was the first woman to be a member of the Hungarian Guild of Chimney Sweeps, Oven Makers, Roof Tilers, Well Diggers, and Potters. Her second job was at an art-pottery studio, but she was not yet able to produce pots consistently enough to meet their standards so she left after six months. Although Zeisel initially did not succeed at throwing pottery, she eventually learned to work in porcelain, which is a particularly difficult material to work in because it is very soft and does not tend to hold a form well.

Zeisel's design process started with drawings on paper, followed by paper cut-outs and carving out shapes herself. In her book on Zeisel, Lucie Young quotes the designer: "Everything I do is a creation of my hands whether it is made in wood, plaster, or clay." In a TED Talk Zeisel described the goal of those who make things: "We are actually concerned with the playful search for beauty."

GMD has several Zeisel pieces, some of which were shown in the recent exhibition Polarities: Black and White in Design. These pieces belong to Zeisel's Museum collection and were commissioned by MoMA in the early 1940's. According to Young, Zeisel's disagreed with MoMA's ideology, which she found to be overly "puritan." The all-white set meets MoMA's stipulations, but also expresses Zeisel's sense of beauty.

Sources:

"Eva Zeisel, Ceramic Artist and Designer Dies at 105" by William L. Hamilton, New York Times, 12-30-2011

Eva Zeisel, by Lucie Young

"Eva Zeisel on the Playful Search for Beauty, " Ted Talks, Filmed Feb 2001, Posted Dec 2008

Caitlin Cohn is Collections Assistant at GMD. She is a graduate student in the College of Design and is pursuing a PhD in Dress, History, and Culture.