INSIDE THE HENRY FORD
ACQUISITIONS + COLLECTIONS
ARCHITECT OF THE EVERYDAY The influential career of designer Michael Graves gains a permanent presence at The Henry Ford THIS YEAR, The Henry Ford acquired Michael Graves Design’s (MGD) extensive product design archive as part of its permanent collection — more than 2,500 objects in total. In celebration of the significant acquisition, a selection of 21 artifacts from the archive was quickly put on display inside Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation as a pop-up exhibition for visitors to enjoy. “In its entirety, the Michael Graves Design’s product archive tells a 39-year history of art, culture and commerce, along with countless stories about the power of design,” said Patricia Mooradian, president and CEO, The Henry Ford. “We are honored that the team chose The Henry Ford as the location to house this collection that shows that everyday products can be designed with both purpose and playfulness.” The MGD archive consists of finished products, models, prototypes and production samples representing partnerships with Alessi, Target, Stryker, Disney, Steuben,
ONLINE To see digitized Michael Graves Product Design Collection artifacts, visit thf.org/gravescollectionc
56
JUNE-DECEMBER 2020
Swid Powell, Sunar, Lenox, Dansk, Duravit and Dornbracht, among others. Graves’ groundbreaking 15-year partnership with Target transformed mass-merchandising strategies, elevated consumers’ expectations for design and made Target a design destination. In addition to high-end client relationships, MGD’s revolutionary approach to common home products, known as “Art of the Everyday Object,” solidified it as a pioneer in the contemporary design industry. “Michael Graves and his designers performed a kind of design alchemy, transforming often humble things — thousands of them — into objects of delight, humor and elegance,” said Marc Greuther, vice president, historical resources and chief curator at The Henry Ford. “He showed that seeming near-opposites, such as practicality, whimsy, affordability, decoration and modernity, could actually coexist — and move swiftly off the shelves of everyday retailers.”
AMERICAN ART POTTERY Near the pop-up exhibit of the newly acquired Michael Graves Design archive, you’ll find an all-new permanent collections platform showcasing artifacts from The Henry Ford’s collection of 20thcentury art pottery. Installed this year, the exhibit tells the story of the evolution of American art pottery, from its origins as a pastime for wealthy Victorian ladies through the studio ceramics movement of the late 20th century. The collections platform also tells the backstories of Detroit’s Pewabic Pottery, Cincinnati’s Rookwood Pottery, and famed Ohio potteries such as Weller and Roseville, as well as California potteries.
— JENNIFER LAFORCE
ONLINE To learn more about Michael Graves’ architecture and design, visit michaelgraves.comc
DID YOU KNOW? / Michael Graves’ first designs for Target debuted in 1999. The collaboration eventually brought over 2,000 products to market across 20 categories, including kitchen electrics, gadgets, cleaning supplies, home decor, and storage and organization.