The Shakers: A World in the Making

The Shakers: A World in the Making

A close look at the creative production of the United States Shaker communities and their influence on designers and artists past and present Established in the 18th century, the Shakers were a Christian community that embraced principles of social equality, communal property and pacifism, viewing labor and design as crucial expressions of their faith. The Shakers’ radically simple, functional objects have had a profound influence on modern design, inspiring generations of artists, architects and designers up to the present day. The Shakers: A World in the Making accompanies the eponymous exhibition―designed by Milan-based studio Formafantasma―which will showcase a wide range of Shaker furniture, architecture, tools and commercial goods. Works by contemporary artists and designers, including Chris Halstrøm, Christien Meindertsma and Kameelah Janan Rasheed, enter into dialogue with the historic exhibits, reflecting on the Shakers’ enduring relevance. The publication includes a rich array of thematic essays contextualizing the Shakers within the wider design, architecture and art canon, detailed studies of selected exhibits as well as personal insights by the contributing artist. Contemporary object and architectural photography offers a fresh perspective on one of the most compelling communal experiments of recent centuries. The exhibition is organized by the Vitra Design Museum, the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia. [The Shakers'] simplistic approach had a huge influence on modern design, and continues to inspire contemporary designers... -- Colin King ― Cultured 'The Shakers: A World in the Making' positions the 18th-century sect as a pioneer of simple, functional and democratic design – principles that still guide aesthetics today. -- Anna Solomon ― Wallpaper* More than just a visual survey, 'The Shakers: A World in the Making' serves as a window into the complex social, material, and spiritual context underlying these vernacular designs that still resonate centuries later. -- Olivia Aylmer ― The Slowdown