Art Deco

The Birth of Moderne La Société des artistes décorateurs (the society of the decorator artists) founded the style. The Society organized the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Art). The initial movement was called Style Moderne. The term Art Deco was derived from the Exposition of 1925, though it was not until the late 1960s that this term was coined.

Designer Technology The structure of art deco is based on geometric shapes. Deco was influenced by a variety of sources. Among them were so called "primitive" arts, as well as Machine Age or streamline technology. These design influences were expressed in fractionated, crystalline, faceted forms of decorative Cubism. Art Deco is characterized by use of materials such as aluminium, stainless steel, lacquer, inlaid wood, sharkskin (shagreen), and zebraskin. The bold use of stepped forms and sweeping curves (unlike the sinuous, natural curves of the Art Nouveau), chevron patterns, and the sunburst motif are typical of Art Deco.

Post War Indulgence Art Deco’s lavishness is attributed to the reaction to the forced austerity imposed by World War I. Art Deco was employed extensively throughout America's train stations in the 1930s, as well as ocean liners, public buildings, and cinemas. A parallel movement called Streamline Moderne, or simply Streamline, followed close behind. Streamline was influenced by the modern aerodynamic designs emerging from advancing technologies in aviation, ballistics, and other fields requiring high velocity.

Architechture The Chrysler Building, New York, New York 1928

The Marlin Hotel, Miami FL (South Beach)

Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, CA

Phul Cinema, India Give an example or real life anecdote Sympathize with the audience’s situation if appropriate

Advertising France (from the collection of David Levine)

Italy (From the collection of David Levine)

USA, 1938

Household Objects “Zephyr” Clock

Refigerator, 1939

Lamp

Fashion

Gown Sketch by Erte, the “Father of Art Deco”

Local Deco Landmarks Music Hall/Bartle Hall. The “pylons” art installation on on the top of Bartle is an enlarged and inverted copy of Art Deco light fixtures inside the music hall.

Municipal Auditorium

Katz Drug (later Osco) on Main St.

City Hall and Jackson County Courthouse

Kansas City Power and Light Building

Liberty Memorial

Deco or Not? Look at the following pictures. On a sheet of paper, write “yes” after the number if you believe it represents Art Deco style, “no “ if it doesn’t.

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