IN THE MUSEUMS

SOUTH

Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future
Through August 23
National Building Museum, Washington, DC
202/272-2448, www.nbm.org
A retrospective of Finnish architect Eero Saarinen (1910–61), designer of American modernist landmarks, such as the TWA terminal in New York (1956–62), and the iconic Womb chair and “Pedestal” series for Knoll.


Designed by Architects: Metalwork from the Margo Grant Walsh Collection
Through August 3

The Scholar’s Eye: Contemporary Ceramics from the Garth Clark and Mark Del Vecchio Collection
Through September 1

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX
713/639-7300, www.mfah.org

Mantel clocks, flatware, tea and coffee services, and other forms designed by architects, including Josef Hoffmann (1870–1956) and Gio Ponti (1891–1979).

Clark and Del Vecchio are New York-based scholars and dealers who amassed one of the most important collections of contemporary ceramics. Thirty examples from their collection, recently acquired by the MFAH, form the “Scholar’s Eye” exhibit.


Aaron Douglas: African American Modernist
Through August 3
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC
202/633-1000, www. americanart.si.edu
Aaron Douglas (1899–1979) was one of the most influential visual artists of the Harlem Renaissance. This exhibition brings together more than 80 rarely seen paintings, prints, drawings and illustrations.

MIDWEST
Mother and Child: Henry Moore’s
West Dean Tapestries
Through January 11, 2009
Figge Art Museum, Davenport, IA
563/326-7804, www.figgeartmuseum.org
Eight large tapestries woven in a collaborative effort between Henry Moore (1898–1986) and the West Dean Tapestry Studio in England between 1975 and 1979.


Pablo Picasso: Livres d’Artistes
Through November 23

Friedlander: Photography
June 29 – September 14

Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN
612/870-3131, www.artsmia.org

A dozen limited edition artists’ books with original prints by Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) and texts ranging from the Comte de Buffon to Tristan Tzara.

A survey of the photography of Lee Friedlander (b. 1934), including portraits of musicians in the 1950s and 1960s.


Setting The Table: Designs in Mid-Century Dinnerware
Through August 3
Price Tower Arts Center, Bartlesville, OK
918/336-4949, www.pricetower.org
Table settings, from holiday formal to park picnic, display a wide selection of mid-century dinnerware, glassware, utensils and serving pieces by designers including Russel Wright, Eva Zeisel and Edith Heath.