Initiatives in Art and Culture

Exclusive tours of the privately owned residences: the Margaret Esherick House and the Vanna Venturi House with Initiatives in Art and Culture at our 26th Annual Arts & Crafts Conference this October 13 – 17 in the Brandywine River Valley! You won’t want to miss these exclusive tours! For tickets, please visit: https://lnkd.in/evMs2HpH Why visit these houses? The Margaret Esherick House (Louis I. Kahn, 1959 – 1962), one of nine houses designed by Kahn, is one of two collaborations between Kahn and Esherick (the other being the 1956 Workshop on the Esherick Museum Campus). It was commissioned by Esherick’s niece, Margaret. Built primarily of concrete block with stucco facing, the house is notable in particular for its spatial organization and for the ventilation and natural lighting provided by the configuration of its windows and shutters. It features a sunken bathtub which doubled as a seat and a wood and copper kitchen by Esherick. The Vanna Venturi House (Robert Venturi, 1962 – 1964), one of the first prominent works of the postmodern architecture movement, was designed by architect Robert Venturi for his mother. The five-room house is only about 30 feet tall but has a monumental front facade. The non-structural appliqué arch and "hole in the wall" windows overtly challenged Modernist orthodoxy. #esherick #margaretesherick #venturi #vannventuri #artsandcraftsmovement #louiskahn #brandywinerivervalley #privatetour #initiativesinartandculture

Lisa Koenigsberg, President of Initiatives in Art and Culture, was honored to speak on the World Jewellery Confederation - CIBJO panel, “The Growing Separation of the Natural and Laboratory-Grown Diamond Markets” at VICENZAORO - ITALIAN EXHIBITION GROUP September 2024. Videos of that and other Industry Voices panels presented by CIBJO are now available for viewing on YouTube! To watch the incredible session, and explore more talks, visit: https://lnkd.in/enxa6EEh Moderated by Edahn Golan, CEO of Edahn Golan Diamond Research & Data. Other panelists include Martin Leake, Special Advisor - Precious Stones at the DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) in Dubai; and Raluca Anghel, Head of External Affairs and Industry Relations at the Natural Diamond Council. #jewelry #sustainability #luxury #goldanddiamonds #vicenzaoro #vicenzaoroseptember2024 #initiativesinartandculture #honored #CIBJO #Vicenza #gold #diamonds #gemfields 

A key figure of America’s Arts and Crafts Movement: Henry Chapman Mercer. Join us in exploring the work of Henry Chapman Mercer at The Moravian Pottery and TileWorks at our 26th Annual Arts & Crafts Conference in the Brandywine River Valley this October 13th–17th. For information and registration, see: https://lnkd.in/evMs2HpH Henry Mercer (1856 – 1930) believed in the value of handcraftsmanship and sought to create art that was both functional and beautiful. Inspired by medieval European tile designs and the traditions of the Moravian Church, he sought to revive traditional tile-making techniques, producing handcrafted tiles that featured intricate designs, often depicting scenes from nature, historical events, literature, and folklore. The work of the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works continues, with artisans using locally sourced Bucks County wild clay to make the heritage Moravian tiles from Mercer’s original design, thus preserving Mercer's legacy and showcasing his belief in the enduring value of traditional craftsmanship in a rapidly modernizing world. #tilework #henrymercer #moravianpottery #brandywinerivervalley #brandywine #artsandcrafts #craftsmanship #artsy #ceramictile #mercertile #artsandcraftsmovement #initiativesinartandculture

Entries for the 4th Bennett Prize are due this Friday, October 4th, 2024, at 11:59pm MST. We are honored to share the Bennett’s work and celebrate their dedication to advancing the careers of women artists. The Bennett Prize is awarded biennially and grants $50,000 over the course of two years to a woman figurative realist artist to support her career. In addition, the chosen artist will have the opportunity to produce a solo exhibition. We can’t wait to learn of the finalists! #thebennettprize #realistfigurativeart #callforartists #figurativeart #figurativeartists #figurativepainter #figurativerealism #womenartists #womenartistsunite #womensequality

Initiatives in Art and Culture mourns the loss of Jeff High, founder of the jewelry design software company, Gemvision, and gratefully remembers his inspirational participation in our conferences. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to his friends and family.

IAC’s 26th annual Arts & Crafts Conference visits the Brandywine River Valley & Philadelphia to consider the centrality of the region in the American Arts & Crafts Movement and its ongoing living expressions. Tracing the history of the Movement from its origins in Britain to its manifestations in the Philadelphia area and its formative influences on the Studio Craft Movement (and here, the work and legacy of Wharton Esherick [1887 – 1970] in particular). 📅 October 13 – 11, 2024 📍 King of Prussia, PA As has been our practice since the beginning, we will explore the artistic and philosophical underpinnings of the Movement and how it informed the art and architecture that followed. The Conference will underscore the importance of preservation and of the continuing influence of historic architecture in the contemporary urban and suburban landscapes. 🎨 Event Page: https://lnkd.in/eEbnRaCd Acknowledgements: Thank you to our sponsors, including Barbara Nitchie Fuldner; Bulova; Heritage Auctions; Rago/Wright; and The Marie + John Zimmermann Foundation; and anonymous donors. 📰 Media Sponsorship: American Fine Art Magazine; The Magazine ANTIQUES. Don’t miss this insightful exploration of this impactful Movement!

IAC is holding a discounted room block until October 4th, 2024 at the Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts King of Prussia for our 26th Annual Arts & Crafts Conference in the Brandywine River Valley. Join us Sunday -- Thursday, October 13 -- 17, 2024. Register now for our event at: https://lnkd.in/eEbnRaCd. You can book by calling the hotel at (610) 265-7500 and indicating that you are with Initiatives in Art and Culture. Or book online at their website! #philadelphiaartevents #gallerytour #studiotour #artsandcrafts #artsandcraftsmovement #brandywine #phillyarts #crowneplaza #nicehotels #comfortable

Join Initiatives in Art and Culture at our 26th Annual Arts & Crafts Conference this October 13–17 in the Brandywine River Valley to explore the real Rose Valley! Between 1901 and 1906, architect William Lightfoot Price and colleagues purchased 80 acres in the abandoned mill hollow of Rose Valley to establish a community based philosophically on principles set forth by William Morris in his utopian novel “News From Nowhere” and, it was hoped, financially on the production of art and craft by artists and artisans working side by side under the aegis of the Rose Valley Association. Although the commercial aspect of the Rose Valley project would unfortunately fail, happily, the social and artistic aspects of the project would thrive. The Rose Valley Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010, includes 105 buildings, 7 sites, 10 structures, and 1 object (the Minquas Path Historic Marker on Rose Valley Road). With no sidewalks, Rose Valley illustrates how suburbanization could have taken a path different from what is typically seen throughout the United States. To register, please visit https://lnkd.in/evXW_4QZ #rosevalley #williamlightfootprice #williammorris #artsandcrafts #nationalregisterofhistoricplaces #iac #philadelphiaevents #registernow #elenoreabbott #secluded #architecturalgem Image: Elenore Abbott’s “Rose Valley,” 1903

David Anfam’s passionate engagement with art and artists was a gift to us all. His great contributions, especially associated with abstract expressionism, endure as does the knowledge of his deep commitment to literature. And yet, it is challenging to come to terms with his absence. For over 20 years, Initiatives in Art and Culture had the honor of working with him throughout our American Art initiatives, and even more, the blessing of delightful, candid conversation. At our American Art Conference in May, we presented him with a cake to celebrate his birthday and he savored every forkfull. We and all who loved him can connect through the electricity of those memories.

IAC is holding a discounted room block *for a limited time* at the Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts King of Prussia for our 26th Annual Arts & Crafts Conference in the Brandywine River Valley. Join us Sunday–Thursday, October 13–17, 2024. Register now for our event at https://lnkd.in/evXW_4QZ You can book by calling the hotel at 610.265.7500 and indicating that you are with Initiatives in Art and Culture. Or book online here: https://lnkd.in/eFySTVPc #philadelphiaartevents #gallerytour #studiotour #iac #artsandcrafts #brandywine #phillyarts #crowneplaza #nicehotels #comfortable