Paola Antonelli, design "expert" and Senior Curator for Moma's Department of Architecture and Design, came to lecture on her work in New York. Antonelli has a degree in Architecture, although she has never worked as an architect. I really appreciate that because branching out into different mediums in the art world can teach one (me) so much. I have so much interest in Design and this was the perfect lecture.
The crowd of this lecture reminded me a lot of the Amy Hauft lecture I went to last semester, consisting of older men and women, obviously with some establishment in the art world. But the format was different than most artists who lecture at VCU, as Antonelli spoke to us about the different elements of design instead of personal work. She has such a broad education in all sorts of design - like she has taught fashion classes too, and that just sounds like the most amazing job.
During her lecture, she discussed contemporary trends in design. Instead of sounding pretentious and New York-y, she was actually very encouraging and promoted her idea of an 'organic path', where one is to go with the flow, to accept and love your work and how you make it. She had a lot of good things to offer, and also stressed the importance of leaving your viewers wanting more, or at least wondering about the craft and design of your work.
I'm so glad I didn't miss this lecture, because it was refreshing to hear an established woman in the art world in New York who speaks well. I hope I make it that far in my career in this crazy world.
