Special Exhibitions:
Local History Gallery
Modern Design in the Valley: an exhibit of Knoll-related furniture designers working in the Upper Perkiomen Valley
January 15 through May 5, 2013
The decision of Hans Knoll in the 1940s to locate his office furniture production facilities in the rural Pennsylvania community of
East Greenville was a significant move for himself, his employees, and for the people of the Upper Perkiomen Valley.
In this bucolic setting, hard working people brought Knoll's visions to life. As the company grew, so did the need for people trained
and gifted with skills for designing new office furnishing products. They came, settled, and raised their families in the Upper Perkiomen
Valley.
This exhibit introduces the colony of designers from a tiny corner of Pennsylvania whose impact was felt across the nation and even
throughout the world through their furniture designs. Some are well known while others remain skilled artisans working quietly behind the
scenes. We feature nine furniture designers in this exhibition. Two, Don Albinson and Harry Bertoia, are no longer living. Robert De Fuccio
and Richard Schultz are both retired. Jim Eldon, Tom Latone and Bill Shea of Shea and Latone, Inc., and David Wothers are all active
designers working full time in the craft they love. Götz Unger teaches design to students at Philadelphia University.
The exhibit engages each designer in three ways: First, through the evolution of a design, the visitor sees the design process in
action. Through sketches, models, prototypes, catalog and marketing information, an item changes and transforms until the product is
presented in use in its intended environment. Second, each designer is requested to present or describe a design-related product they
most enjoyed creating. Third, the designer's most significant item that went into production is presented and explained. This exhibit
features the creativity of skilled designers and showcases the craftsmanship of a hard-working and welcoming community.
Fraktur Gallery
A Sample of Schwenkfelder Samplers Exhibit
May 1 through May 31, 2013
Visit our special exhibit tracing the chronological history of Schwenkfelder samplers from pre-immigration in the 1730s to the late 19th century in this exciting exhibit. We have not previously taken this approach to exhibiting the samplers in the permanent collection, and it should be not only an aesthetic delight but an excellent education in sampler-making and needlework among Schwenkfelder girls and women. We have the great privilege of borrowing two samplers from the Peter Wentz Farmstead, including their very important 1733 Anna Wagner sampler, which is a critical aspect of understanding the transmission of motifs and sampler-making among the Schwenkfelders and Pennsylvania German girls specifically. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see all of the “girls” together!
Meeting Room Gallery
Local Landscapes
May 27 through September 31, 2013
An exhibit of paintings from the permanent collection celebrating our scenery in Montgomery, Berks and Bucks Counties.