MICHAEL GRAVES EXHIBIT - THE PAST AS PROLOGUE

The Michael Graves Exhibition at the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ celebrates 50 years of Mr. Graves' architectural work and design. The show is complete and takes us through his beginning years as a young architectural student who had won the prestigious Prix de Roma award.  With this fellowship he travelled through Greece, Italy, France, Germany, and Spain recording the great classical monuments in his sketchbook.  Of particular note, are the large, ink &

wash cathedral drawings on the first floor.  The classical influence is evident in the rooms containing his building designs from Disney to the redesign of the Newark Museum and its addition.  Even though I became obsessed with Michael Graves' classical,  geometric  design interior of the dining area in the Newark Museum, I love his functional pieces.  The second floor of the exhibit details his home design and furniture, dinnerware and working drawings.    His beautiful, Alessi silver tea service is featured, along with his complete desk set (like a small city within itself),  and the charming  teapot with whistling bird.   The exhibit will be on view until April 2015, it is inspirational and extensive.  The working drawings are important to see, all hand-generated, not computer!