Wharton Esherick is considered the godfather of the Studio Furniture Movement and inventor of Art Furniture. Esherick (1887-1970) was a visionary who synthesized art, design, craft, and architecture. He focused on merging life and craftsmanship in rural Paoli, Pennsylvania, while the rest of the world was captured by the power of the machine in revolutionizing modern life. This program explored Esherick’s legacy, influence, and impact on the story of modern design in America. A screening of the documentary I Am Known as an Artist was followed by a panel discussion with Carolyn Coal, the filmmaker, Dr. Robert Aibel, collector, scholar, and dealer, and Paul Eisenhauer, former executive director and curator of the Wharton Esherick Museum, moderated by design historian Daniella Ohad.
