Visit: Alexander Girard, An Uncommon Vision

As part part of NYCxDESIGN (which used to be Design Week, which used to just be the International Contemporary Furniture Fair), Herman Miller and Maharam have created a special installation of new and old work by Alexander Girard in a storefront at 446 West 14th Street. It celebrates reissued fabrics by both companies, as well as new ottomans, side tables and pillows produced by Herman Miller. I suspect we will be seeing the Environmental Panels, in stars and hearts, in a lot of designer kids bedrooms next year.

For Girard superfans like me, the treat was seeing an homage to his own showroom designs in white-painted metal, and archival treasures including neckties, sample books, Braniff brochures and a couple of rare two-tone Girard chairs. I loved the juxtaposition of vintage photographs, blown up so you could seen the dots, with to still-spectacular colors of Girard-designed tableware, textiles and graphics. The coffee tables are also helpfully stocked with books by and about Girard’s friends George, Eero, Isamu, and so on. The brand-new Apartamento #13 includes a lengthy interview with Girard’s son and grandchildren, along with an extensive photo portfolio with special emphasis on his own house in Santa Fe. Maynard Parker’s photographs of that adobe house can be seen online at the Huntington. The storefront exhibition is free, and up until May 28.

For more on Girard, read Designing with Folk Art or watch Beyond Gorgeous.

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