Minneapolis Institute of Art Re-launches Annual Antiques Show as
Design & Antiques Fair
(September 24–26, 2010)
A related exhibition, “Chairevolution! 300 Years of Designing the Chair” complements the fair.
Minneapolis, MN. August 31, 2010—This September, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) transforms its annual Antiques Show & Sale into the reconceived Design & Antiques Fair, expanded to include Modernism and 20th century design as well as hundreds of authentic antiques. Acknowledging the interests of emerging collectors, the fair will now include a number of dealers who focus on 20th century design. The Design & Antiques Fair will take place at the St. Paul Armory and feature high-quality furniture, accessories, silver, glassware, objets d’art, and design from the 17th to the 20th century for a range of tastes and budgets from dealers around the country. Complementing the expanded scope of the fair, the MIA’s concurrent exhibition “Chairevolution!,” running from September 16 to November 28, traces the evolution of furniture design.
“I’m pleased to be part of re-energizing this extremely successful annual event,” said Michael Francis, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Target. “As honorary co-chair this year, with Eric Dayton, I am excited to have the opportunity to support the incorporation of twentieth-century design into the fair. This design focus will attract a new audience of visitors while continuing to increase the popularity of the show.” Michael Francis and Eric Dayton, co-founder of The Circle, the MIA’s membership program for young professionals, both played vital roles in guiding the fair’s expansion and reconception.
In tandem with the Design & Antiques Fair, the MIA will present “Chairevolution! 300 Years of Designing the Chair,” on view from September 16 to November 28. “Chairevolution!” examines the history of design using examples from the museum’s permanent collection of chairs, emphasizing those great moments when evolution became revolution. By presenting the development of the chair over time, the exhibition reflects the evolution of furniture design in general. Visitors will experience the gradual change of styles. Often designers mix the new with some borrowed elements from the past. For instance, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, and Egyptian Revival, each built on select elements of older styles. The Prairie School, Bauhaus, and other schools shocked and surprised as they produced completely new twists on an age-old form.
This year’s fair will also include “Booth Camp,” where dealers, curators, and special guests will provide fun and informative tours at half-hour intervals on Friday and Saturday afternoons. A Third Thursday program will thematically link to the fair. This will include an MCAD partnership and design studio tour: seating-area furniture on loan from Design Within Reach, and a design trunk show. Details will be available closer to the event.
Show Times New Location
September 24–26, 2010 St. Paul Armory
Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 600 Cedar Street
Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. St. Paul, MN 55101
Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m
Presenting Sponsor of the 2010 Design & Antiques Fair is Northern Trust. Major sponsorship is also provided by JE Dunn and the General Mills Foundation.
###
About the Minneapolis Institute of Art
The Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA), home to one of the finest encyclopedic art collections in the country, houses more than 80,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history. Highlights of the permanent collection include European masterworks by Rembrandt, Poussin, and van Gogh; modern and contemporary painting and sculpture by Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian, Stella, and Close; as well as internationally significant collections of prints and drawings, decorative arts, Modernist design, photographs, textiles, and Asian, African, and Native American art. General admission is always free. Some special exhibitions have a nominal admission fee. Museum hours: Sunday, 11 A.M-5 P.M.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 A.M.-5 P.M..; Thursday, 10 A.M.-9 P.M.; Monday closed. For more information, call (612) 870-3131 or visit www.artsmia.org.
Press Contacts
Anne-Marie Wagener, Director of Public Relations
(612) 870-3280; awagener@artsmia.org
Tammy Pleshek, Public Relations Specialist
(612) 870-3171; tpleshek@artsmia.org