Play it Louder: Alexander Girard and the Girard Foundation Collection

On display Jun 18, 2010 - Sep 10, 2010 in the Governor's Gallery (State Capitol)

Play it Louder: Alexander Girard and the Girard Foundation Collection presents objects from the Museum of International Folk Art’s collection with examples of Alexander Girard’s design work.  Opening reception: Friday, June 18, at 4:00 pm, Governor's Gallery.

Superb folk art and Alexander Girard designed objects will be shown together to illustrate how Girard’s interest, and exposure to, folk art was reflected in his professional design work.  Revolutionary for the time, Girard’s pumped up color and sense of play are what established him as one of the decisive figures in post-war American design. Bright and playful are descriptions that underscore the joy and vitality of the color and design elements in Girard’s own work and are found in the folk art he was so passionate about.

While Alexander Girard’s designs are produced in a modern and industrialized fashion, unlike the traditional folk artisans, ultimately he too was creating beautiful, utilitarian objects to enrich our daily experience.

In the Governor's Gallery, 4th Floor of the State Capitol.

(Above) Alexander Girard sun graphic for La Fonda del Sol, circa 1961. Courtesy of máXimo: Design and Research, LLC.

Images from the Exhibition