Dive into our festive food-related objects WITH COOPER HEWITT CURATORS

Every Wednesday, join us in the historic Carnegie Library for At the Hearth, a drop-in program held from 5:00-6:00 p.m. during the museum’s Pay What You Wish hour. Hosted by Cooper Hewitt curators, educators, conservators, and librarians, come sit by the fireplace for intimate conversations and fresh perspectives from makers, designers, thinkers, and writers deeply engaged in design.

During this At the Hearth, we’ll focus on Cooper Hewitt’s permanent collection, which includes a multitude of dinnerware and food serving objects. As we approach the holidays, join Cooper Hewitt Curators Emily Orr and Michelle Millar Fisher as we dive into our festive food-related objects, including works in the Design Across Time exhibition, from a set of caterpillar cake tongs, an articulated toast rack, a pair of spherical salt and pepper shakers to a porcelain tea set, a 3D printed casserole dish, and more! Design Across Time expands public access to Cooper Hewitt’s collection and includes significant works newly brought out of storage just last week. 

HOSTs 

Emily M. Orr is Associate Curator and Acting Head of Product Design and Decorative Arts at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum where her exhibitions include Design Across Time: Exploring the Smithsonian’s Design Collection (2026), Give Me a Sign: The Language of Symbols (2023), Underground Modernist: E. McKnight Kauffer (2021-2022), and Botanical Expressions (2019-2021). She holds a Ph.D. in the History of Design from the Royal College of Art/Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Her primary areas of scholarship span industrial design, the modern interior, and retail history. She is the author of Designing the Department Store: Display and Retail at the Turn of the Twentieth Century (Bloomsbury, 2019) and co-editor and contributor to E. McKnight Kauffer: The Artist in Advertising (Rizzoli Electa/Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 2020).

Michelle Millar Fisher is Chief Curator at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. She was most recently the Ronald C. and Anita L. Wornick Curator of Contemporary Decorative Arts at the MFA Boston. Her work at the MFA has focused on the intersections of people, power and the material world. Her most current work is dedicated to craft education, a project that will culminate in the book Craft Schools: A Traveler’s Guide, as well as a forthcoming exhibition, “Think With Your Hands: Learning Through Craft Schools.” As part of an independent team, she also led “Designing Motherhood: Things That Make and Break Our Births,” a book, touring exhibition and series of programs. The project won a Pew Center for Arts & Heritage Award, a Graham Foundation Award and the 2025 Architectural Review Award for Research in Gender and Architecture.

Accessibility & What to Expect: 

  • Format:Visitors will have the chance to view the objects on display including time to ask questions and engage with other participants.
  • About the space: This program will take place in Cooper Hewitt’s Carnegie Library. It is fully wheelchair accessible. The program offers standing room and chairs for those who would like to sit. There is an accessible restroom on the Ground floor. Read more about accessibility at Cooper Hewitt. 
  • Accommodations: We welcome questions and accommodation requests that support your participation. Please email us at CHEducation@si.edu or call 212.849.8400. Please make your accommodation request as far in advance as possible—preferably at least one week before the program date when possible.