The Shakers: A World in the Making

Mea Hoffmann

ISBN 10: 3945852668 / ISBN 13: 9783945852668

Published by Vitra Design Museum, DE, 2025

About this Item

The Shakers: A World in the Making aims to both examine the lasting impact of the Shaker legacy as well as the more unexpected facets of their production, ideology and way of life from a contemporary perspective. Established in the 18th century, the Shakers were a free church that embraced principles of social equality, communal property and pacifism, viewing labour and design as 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 the Milan-based studio Formafantasma - which will showcase a wide range of Shaker furniture, architecture, tools and commercial goods. Works by contemporary artists and designers enter in 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 contributions by the participating artist. Contemporary object and architectural photography offers a fresh perspective on one of the most compelling communal experiments of recent centuries. With contributions by Glenn Adamson, Aaron Betsky, Jeffrey de Blois, Amie Cunat, David Hartt, Chris L. Halstrøm, Mea Hoffmann, Christien Meindertsma, Sarah Margolis-Pineo, Kameelah Janan Rasheed, Shoshana Resnikoff and others.

Seller Inventory # LU-9783945852668

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Shakers: A World in the Making
• Publisher: Vitra Design Museum, DE
• Publication Date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3945852668
• ISBN 13: 9783945852668
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: New
• Weight: 1280 grams

About this title

Synopsis

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.