Detroit's Design DNA: The DIA's 1949 For Modern Living Exhibition

Le Salon is Detroit’s new gathering for curious minds and spirited conversation. Each month, we invite local professors, artists, and community leaders to share fresh perspectives in a relaxed, after-hours setting in our new Borgman Room just off of the Apparatus Room.

Arrive early, grab a cocktail (or your drink of choice), and settle in for a 35–40 minute talk that’s as thought-provoking as it is approachable. Whether you’re a regular or just dropping by, Le Salon is your place to connect, unwind, and discover something new—no tickets, no pressure, just great ideas and good company.

Lecture title: Detroit's Design DNA: The DIA's 1949 For Modern Living Exhibition -- Legacy and Lessons

How can the legacy of Detroit's past -- its "design DNA" -- inspire Detroit artists, institutions and civic leaders of today and tomorrow?

Join art historian Deborah Lubera Kawsky to explore a watershed moment in Detroit design history: the 1949 For Modern Living exhibition at the Detroit Insitute of Arts.

Centered on the DIA's Great Hall, For Modern Living marshaled midcentury masters Alexander Girard, Minoru Yamasaki, Eero Saarinen, Florence Knoll, and Charles & Ray Eames to create a "new concept of beauty" for the modern era -- with a focus on design for the home. More importantly, the exhibition -- which employed a multidisciplinary design team, civic & corporate partnerships, and innovative exhibition displays -- provides a model for Detroit's design community today.

Kawsky will be joined by designer Christina Liedtke, who is founder, CEO and creative director of Astouri. Astouri showcases unique pieces of wearable art, from scarves to dresses, each piece inspired by modern living in Detroit and reflecting the soul of the city.

**This lecture ties in directly with the Cranbrook Art Museum's current exhibition, Everything Eventually Connects: Mid-Century Modern Design in the US."

About the Lecturer: Deborah Lubera Kawsky was born in Detroit, MI, which inspired her love for the city’s art and architecture.

Kawsky completed her undergraduate studies in art history at Smith College and her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Princeton University. She teaches art history courses at Madonna University and is board president of Docomomo MI, which coordinates community events across the state, relating to modern art, artists, and architecture. Kawsky has lectured at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Cranbrook Art Museum and Palm Springs Modernism Week on a range of art historical topics and is author of the 2018 book, Alexander Girard Architect: Creating Midcentury Modern Masterpieces.

Agenda:

- 6:30 PM – Doors open: find a seat (open seating), order food & drinks, and expect a bar line—arriving early is key. - 6:55 PM – Host introduction- 7:00 PM – Lecture begins- 7:45 PM – Audience Q&A

- 8:00 PM – 1:1 time with the speaker, mingle with fellow guests, and order another round

-8:30PM–Wrap up

--Image Descriptions and Captions

Attachment 1:

Facade of the DIA during the 1949 For Modern Living Exhibition, Detroit Institute of Arts, 1949

Courtesy Detroit Institute of Arts.

Attachment 2: **this one is likely the best

Charles and Ray Eames Exhibition Room, For Modern Living Exhibition, Detroit Institute of Arts, 1949

Photographer: Elmer Astelford. Courtesy Detroit Institute of Arts.

Attachment 3:

City Map Maxi Skirt, Astouri

Attachment 4:

Streets of Detroit Dress, Christina Liedtke and Alex Fedirko

Host or Publisher Detroit Foundation Hotel