Past Exhibits  HOME | LAND 5 Dutch Days 5 Boroughs As part of the 2009 5 Dutch Days 5 Boroughs celebration, an exhibition of contemporary Dutch design was on display at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum. Curated by Jo-Anneke van der Molen, the show intermingled contemporary Dutch design objects with the museum's 19th-century furnishings and decorative arts in a glorious Greek Revival interior. The area surrounding Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum was known to Dutch settlers in the early 17th century as Vriedelandt – Land of Peace – although in fact it was far from peaceful (Anne Hutchinson, who was killed by Indians, lived in the area). Beautiful and serene today, the 19th-century mansion, tucked away in the northeast corner of Pelham Bay Park, is the only extant great country house of close to two dozen that once dotted the area. To celebrate the area's Dutch heritage, decorative arts by prominent Dutch designers as well as graduates of the renowned Design Academy Eindhoven are showcased side-by-side the museum's collection, providing a provocative contrast between the 21st and the 19th centuries.  The objects on view were either inspired by forms and materials found in nature, an attempt to bring the outside in, or clever re-imaginings of traditional decorative arts. Many pieces illustrated the Dutch relationship to its environment in our mechanized age. Others were inspired by traditional forms but were given a contemporary twist. All were original in concept and especially striking juxtaposed with the museum's pieces. During 5 Dutch Days, the museum was open Thursday, November 12, through Monday, November 16, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and until 8 p.m. on Friday, November 13. A free bus from the Museum of Arts and Design was available on Thursday, November 12, through Sunday, November 15. Lectures: Friday, November 13, 7 p.m., Vriedelandt – Land of Peace? Vriedelandt was the Dutch name for a vast area of the Bronx that included Pelham Bay Park. Museum guide Tom Vasti gives a fascinating glimpse into its Dutch heritage and connection to Anne Hutchinson. On Sunday, November 15, 2 p.m., Contemporary Dutch Design by Alissia Melka-Teichroew, one of the designers featured in the show, now living and working in New York.  The Age of Botanical Wonders September 4 – November 22, 2009 The proceedings of the Horticultural Society of London (renamed the Royal Horticultural Society in 1861), were collected in publications entitled Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London appearing periodically from 1812 to1842. The Transactions were devoted to the subject of horticulture and the improvement of its practice. The Society's innovative leadership attracted the most eminent scholars, scientists, artists, and engravers of the day to contribute to the content and production of the Transactions. This exhibition features exquisite, hand-colored engraving on steel by botanical masters such as William Hooker, John Lindley, and William Say. The volumes in the Museum's Library Collection were acquired in the early 20th century by the newly formed International Garden Club which modeled itself after the Royal Horticultural Society. Botanical prints, postcards, and note cards are available in the Museum Gift Shop. |
895 Shore Road · Pelham Bay Park · The Bronx, New York 10464 · tel: 718-885-1461
