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Serious Play: Design In Midcentury America
Venue: Denver Art Museum
Event Phone: (720) 865-5000
Admission Price: Included in general admission
Serious Play: Design in Midcentury America presents the concept of playfulness in postwar American design as a catalyst for creativity and innovation. This exhibition will explore how employing playfulness allowed designers to bring fresh ideas to the American home, children’s toys and play spaces, and corporate identities.
During the 1950s and ’60s, a number of factors came together to make this bold design innovation possible. Diverse materials and manufacturing techniques opened up possibilities for new approaches to design and larger-scale production. Larger disposable income and leisure time of a growing middle class offered more possibilities for designers to help Americans discover a new way of living at home through thoughtfully designed objects. An emerging focus on child development prompted an interest in children’s furniture and placed a fresh emphasis on the importance of smart toy design. Pervasive Cold War anxiety created a desire to bring positivity and escapism into everyday spaces. Architects and designers that took advantage of all these new opportunities thrived.
Co-organized by the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Denver Art Museum, the exhibition includes over 200 works in various media, ranging from works on paper, models, textiles, furniture and ceramics to films, toys, playground equipment and product design. Organized around three themes—the American home, child’s play, and corporate approaches to design—the exhibition encourages visitors to consider how design connects to their daily lives.
A full-color, hardcover exhibition catalog will be published by the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Denver Art Museum and in association with Yale University Press. Essays will give voice to the exhibition’s thematic threads and will reveal new scholarship on the topic of play in postwar American design.
During the 1950s and ’60s, a number of factors came together to make this bold design innovation possible. Diverse materials and manufacturing techniques opened up possibilities for new approaches to design and larger-scale production. Larger disposable income and leisure time of a growing middle class offered more possibilities for designers to help Americans discover a new way of living at home through thoughtfully designed objects. An emerging focus on child development prompted an interest in children’s furniture and placed a fresh emphasis on the importance of smart toy design. Pervasive Cold War anxiety created a desire to bring positivity and escapism into everyday spaces. Architects and designers that took advantage of all these new opportunities thrived.
Co-organized by the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Denver Art Museum, the exhibition includes over 200 works in various media, ranging from works on paper, models, textiles, furniture and ceramics to films, toys, playground equipment and product design. Organized around three themes—the American home, child’s play, and corporate approaches to design—the exhibition encourages visitors to consider how design connects to their daily lives.
A full-color, hardcover exhibition catalog will be published by the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Denver Art Museum and in association with Yale University Press. Essays will give voice to the exhibition’s thematic threads and will reveal new scholarship on the topic of play in postwar American design.
There are no events happening in the near future.
Venue Details:
Past Event Times
All times below are in Denver local time.
Date | Time |
---|---|
Sunday August 25, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday August 24, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday August 23, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday August 22, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday August 21, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday August 20, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday August 19, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday August 18, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday August 17, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday August 16, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday August 15, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday August 14, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday August 13, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday August 12, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday August 11, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday August 10, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday August 9, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday August 8, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday August 7, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday August 6, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday August 5, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday August 4, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday August 3, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday August 2, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday August 1, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday July 31, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday July 30, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday July 29, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday July 28, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday July 27, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday July 26, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday July 25, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday July 24, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday July 23, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday July 22, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday July 21, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday July 20, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday July 19, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday July 18, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday July 17, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday July 16, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday July 15, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday July 14, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday July 13, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday July 12, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday July 11, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday July 10, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday July 9, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday July 8, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday July 7, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday July 6, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday July 5, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday July 4, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday July 3, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday July 2, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday July 1, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday June 30, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday June 29, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday June 28, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday June 27, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday June 26, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday June 25, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday June 24, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday June 23, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday June 22, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday June 21, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday June 20, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday June 19, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday June 18, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday June 17, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday June 16, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday June 15, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday June 14, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday June 13, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday June 12, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday June 11, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday June 10, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday June 9, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday June 8, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday June 7, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday June 6, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday June 5, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday June 4, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday June 3, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday June 2, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday June 1, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday May 31, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday May 30, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday May 29, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday May 28, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday May 27, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday May 26, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday May 25, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday May 24, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday May 23, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday May 22, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday May 21, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday May 20, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday May 19, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday May 18, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday May 17, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday May 16, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday May 15, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday May 14, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday May 13, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday May 12, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Saturday May 11, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Friday May 10, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Thursday May 9, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Wednesday May 8, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Tuesday May 7, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Monday May 6, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
Sunday May 5, 2019 | Start Time:10:00amEnd Time:5:00pm |
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