SUZANNE TICK: MAKING MATERIALS MATTER
In conjunction with the current exhibition A Dark, A Light, A Bright: The Designs of Dorothy Liebes, please join a contemporary textile designer and weaver who is equally acclaimed for her experimental approach to materials: Suzanne Tick. In an illustrated conversation with Susan Brown, Cooper Hewitt’s Acting Head of Textiles and co-curator of the exhibition, the program will consider Tick’s designs, how she has helped build sustainability into the contract textile industry, and how her handweaving practice intersects with her commercial designs. As Creative Director of Luum Textiles, Tick combines a cutting-edge approach to technology with industry-leading materials development, recycling, and reuse, with the goal of empowering designers and end-users to make the most sustainable choices whenever possible. In addition to her work in the contract fabrics market, Tick creates woven art from repurposed materials, including mylar balloons scavenged from area beaches. Her work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, Cooper Hewitt, Museum of Arts and Design, Art Basel, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Samples of Tick’s commercial designs and artwork will be available to view and touch.
About the Program
This program will be livestreamed on Cooper Hewitt’s YouTube channel. To watch the program live, please visit this link.
- Program Length: 90 minutes
- Interactivity Level: Low. Participants will hear a conversation between speakers. Slides will be presented on a large screen. Participants are invited to participate in an optional question and answer session at the end of the conversation.
- Intended Audience: People curious about design, textile design, weaving, materials innovation, and design history. No previous design or design history knowledge is required.
Accessibility
- Location: This program will take place in person in the Lecture Room at Cooper Hewitt (2 East 91st Street, New York, NY). The Lecture Room is on the ground floor of the museum and fully wheelchair accessible. There is an accessible restroom on the same floor. Theater-style seating will be available. Read more about accessibility at Cooper Hewitt.
- What to Expect: This program will feature a panel with a slideshow presentation followed by an audience Q&A.
- Accommodations: For general questions and requests for additional accessibility services or accommodations to support your participation in this program, please email us at CHEducation@si.edu or let us know when registering. Please make your accommodation request as far in advance as possible—preferably at least one week before the program date when possible.
About national design week
National Design Week celebrates the power of design in our everyday world. Launched in 2006, National Design Week is held in conjunction with the National Design Awards. From October 2–8, Cooper Hewitt’s galleries will be free to enter, and programs will welcome all to engage with design. Join us for the presentation of the 2023 National Design Awards, and visit our calendar for a complete listing of programs during National Design Week.
Special Thanks
National Design Awards Partners
Shelby and Frederick Gans
Helen and Edward Hintz
National Design Awards Sponsors
Apple
Alexandra and Paul Herzan
Lisa Roberts and David Seltzer
Crystal and Chris Sacca
National Design Awards Patrons
Kimberly Schuessler
Richard M. Smith and Dr. Soon-Young Yoon
Jon C. Iwata
Agnes Gund
Scott Belsky
Victor Calise
Champions Design
Heller Furniture
Bobby Martin
Thomas Robinson
Margaret Stewart
Design learning at Cooper Hewitt is made possible by eBay Inc., The Hirsch Family Foundation, The Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, The Pinkerton Foundation, PwC Charitable Foundation, The Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation, with internal Smithsonian Institution funds from the Youth Access Grants for Youth Innovation in Rural America, and public funds from New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
National Design Awards trophies are created by The Corning Museum of Glass.
A Dark, A Light, A Bright: The Designs of Dorothy Liebes is made possible by The Coby Foundation; The Decorative Arts Trust; the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative, a program of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum; and the Terra Foundation for American Art.
The project received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
Generous support is provided by the Lily Auchincloss Foundation; the Lenore G. Tawney Foundation; Mergentime Family Archive; and the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation.
Support is also provided by Elizabeth Whelan, The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, and Patsy Orlofsky.
