Several Norwegian artists are among the lineup at this spring's big exhibition at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. Nordic Cool: Hot Women Designers will showcase more than 200 of the best designs the five Nordic countries have to offer.
Women have made major contributions to the unparalleled style and innovation that define design from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. More than 200 of the very best designs that these countries have to offer, from furniture, textiles, and utensils to clothing, jewelry, and architecture will be showcased at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NWMA) April 23 through September 12, 2004.
“A strong tradition of gender equality in the Nordic countries has given women access to educational opportunities, apprenticeships, and directorial positions in design industries,” commented NMWA Director Judy L. Larson, who conceived of the exhibition and is its co-curator. “This exhibition encourages the understanding of design within the context of culture and gender, presenting works of great beauty in a sociological setting.”
The five Nordic countries share global latitude, and much of the design is a response to the landscapes and social activities. The colors and features of the terrain, along with long summer days and cold, dark winter nights, often inform designers’ creativity. But each country possesses a distinct history and tradition that shape its design concepts and influences regional styles.
Exhibition highlights include textiles from Finnish designer Maija Isola, who helped establish Marimekko’s signature bright colors and patterns; furniture and jewelry by Nanna Ditzel, the pre-eminent woman designer of Danish Modern Furniture; the interactive websites of Pia Myrvold of Norway that allow visitors to design made-to-order clothing; Swedish glass designer Lena Bergström’s colorful, nature-inspired Planet bowls for Kosta Boda; and contemporary knit clothing from Icelandic fashion designer Steinunn.
Lectures by leading artists such as Ditzel and Steinunn and a film series highlighting women directors from all five Nordic countries are just some of the programs that will be offered to the public during the exhibition. Cool Play, a free family festival that is traditionally the museum’s largest public program of the year, will occur on May 2, featuring music, dancing, storytelling in both Swedish and English, and crafts projects such as Danish paper cutting, weaving, and decorative painting.
Admission to the museum during the exhibition will be $8 for adults, $6 for students and visitors 60 and over, and free for NMWA members and youth 18 and under. Free Community Days are the first Sunday and Wednesday of each month. The museum’s hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. It is located at 1250 New York Ave., NW, two blocks north of Metro Center in downtown Washington, DC. More information is available by calling 202.783.5000, or looking online at www.nmwa.org.