Lace in Translation

The Design Center at Philadelphia University (TDC) presents Lace in Translation, a new exhibition of contemporary work that explores the intersection of luxurious hand-craftsmanship with modern, mass production. TDC’s historic Quaker Lace Company collection is the inspiration for three internationally-renowned artists and designers reconsidering conventional notions of lace.  European designers Tord Boontje and Demakersvan, and Canadian artist Cal Lane have created installations specifically for TDC’s unique and intimate space – a 1950s era, Hollywood-style ranch house, situated on the edge of Fairmount Park.
From the intricacy of a handwoven raffia curtain, to the industrial art forms of laser-cut fabrics, a welded filigree oil tank, and a lace chain-link fence, Lace in Translation plays with the concept of lace, utilizing unexpected materials and new technologies to transform the Center’s grounds and galleries.
As part of the nation’s oldest textile school, TDC’s historic textile collection features many artifacts from Philadelphia’s pinnacle as a national center for textile design and manufacturing. The Center’s lace collection includes some 150 machine-made lace samples and marketing materials from the Quaker Lace Company of Philadelphia.  TDC also houses an extraordinary collection of hundreds of original design sketches by Quaker Lace designer Frederick Charles Vessey (1862-1948).
Lace in Translation is the first exhibition produced by The Design Center in conjunction with its new interpretive initiative, The Fabric of Philadelphia – a collaborative effort led by TDC in partnership with area museums, libraries, businesses and community members. The initiative captures and communicates the compelling story of the Philadelphia region’s textile heritage as a national center for textile design and manufacturing.
This project has been funded by The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage through the Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative with additional support from the Marketing Innovation Program. The Coby Foundation, Ltd. and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts have contributed additional support to this project.