bur bowtie (c) Allie McConnell, photographed at Canterbury Shaker Village, Vermont
Today brings the opening of Li Edelkoort's art gallery in Paris. Edelkoort is the founder of Trend Union, a highly influential trend forecasting company. She herself is a significant proponent of artisans, textile craft, and sustainable fashion production.
The first exhibition at Edelkoort Gallery is an exploration of Shaker artifacts and Shaker inspired design.
Locally, in Connecticut, you can explore Shaker material culture in an ongoing series of exhibits at the New Britain Museum of American Art.
For me, Shaker design, like Amish and Japanese design culture, is a timeless balance of engineering, function, and aesthetics. It's a sensibility rich with inspiration for home decor, consumption habits, and manufacturing.
Here, I'm revealing for the first time some editorial photos I took on an off-season visit to Canterbury Shaker Village in Vermont. A cluster of burs inspired me to think of jewelry and menswear accessories, in contrast to my partner's simple flannel shirt. No matter what season, the grounds at Canterbury are magnificent to walk, and in the warmer months, the museum hosts a great program of events and classes. Well worth a day or weekend trip.
Links
bur boutonniere (c) Allie McConnell, photographed at Canterbury Shaker Village, Vermont