What is Modern? Is it a teapot, an office chair, or the architecture of a building? Is it characterized by clean lines and minimalist tendencies? Something mass-produced for the worker and staunchly anti-Bourgeois? Is it an idealist utopia? This is the question that the Corcoran set out to answer in its exhibit Modernism Designing a New World, 1914 – 1939. Showcasing over 400 works encompassing a broad range of media, including industrial and graphic design,…

At DCist, we have danced all around the Paul Klee show, Klee and America, at the Phillips Collection. Our classical music man Charles discussed Klee and Gunther Schuller, and we tempted you with the show here, here, and here. It’s finally time to turn a critical eye on Klee’s work itself. Paul Klee could be one of history’s most schizophrenic painters. When he shows up, one might say, sober for work, does his aesthetic stretches,…

Last year, American composer Gunther Schuller, whose music has won both a Pulitzer Prize and a Grammy, turned 80 years old. After being honored with a series of concerts in Boston, he showed up here in Washington at the Library of Congress to accept the honor of being named a Living Legend. Last night he was back, this time at the Phillips Collection, as part of the museum’s latest Artful Evening, this time to draw…

Today we bring you news from the revolving door. Artworks are arriving, artists are leaving, and the local scene remains ever-changing, even in the slow, muggy doldrums of summer. >>A Klee In the Hand: Just last week we were pimping Paul Klee in the Arts Agenda, and here he is making the news again this week. The Post reported Tuesday that The Phillips Collection has acquired two Klee pieces from separate private donors. To the…