The Art (Deco) of Sound
When Patty and the crew at Gaus Acoustics showed me the 1912 Collection from Acoufelt, my immediate response was, “Oh that’s amazing, I love the Art Deco movement!”. This art movement influenced so much of our popular culture today, and in many ways people don’t even realize. To see it reemerging in a new form that also plays to the origins of it is just so much icing on the cake.
Oh, right. You may not know me yet. Hi! I’m Tim Toolen, and in addition to working with Gaus Acoustics in graphics, marketing, and brand design, I’m also a fine artist who loves to study art history.
The Origins of Art Deco
See, the Art Deco movement started with the rise of Decorative Artists, who included furniture and textile designers, jewelry and glass artisans, and a variety of other craftsmen.
The Society of Decorative Artists (SAD) was founded in 1901, and Decorative Artists were finally given the same rights of authorship as traditional painters and sculptors. This was a huge leap forward in terms of recognition for both their trade, as well as even perhaps the true beginnings of interior design as we know it today.
Art Deco was, and still is, associated with both luxury and modernism. It combines materials, methods, and objects in ways that scream sophistication and elegance, all while being driven with the times it is created in. From the association with luxury-class rooms on ocean liners and trains, and the decorations and design of the great movie and theater palaces of the 20’s and 30’s, to a more sober, but no less striking and elegant look, after the Great Depression.
And while the movement did eventually start to fade after World War II, there was a revival of sorts in it’s popularity after efforts in the US and Europe in the 1970’s to preserve Art Deco architecture. Even to this day the movement continues to inspire modern-day designers and artists in contemporary clothing fashion, jewelry, interior designers, and yes even graphic designers!
Even the naming of the collection of “1912” is significant in the beginning history of the Art Deco movement! SAD originally was to hold the first major exhibition of original Decorative Arts in 1912, but because of postponement and the war, didn’t actually take place until 1925. So the naming of this offering as the 1912 Collection is actually honoring what would have been the original date of the first true exhibition of this movement.
Some may call that coincidence. Personally, there are too many details, nuances, and experts at work with the creation of this line of products to call it coincidence. What I call that is an attention to detail on a level that speaks to the expertise of these two companies, and their dedication to their respective arts. The partnership that created the 1912 Collection should have heads turning for that alone.
Now, remember textile designers were one of the types of artisans that made Art Deco a thing. That’s also part of what makes the partnership that made this collection even more significant. It’s not just the beautiful brush strokes, line work, and patterns, it’s the design of the material itself as well!
When you have top interior designers and acoustical experts get together to make a product that BOTH would be proud to utilize in their respective fields separately, but actually accomplishes the end result of both beauty AND acoustical harmony in a space, then you have a product that truly stands apart from the rest.
The truth is I could go on and on about how the Art Deco movement has influenced everything from cruise ships to automotive design, architecture in both Miami Beach and Hollywood (the city AND the movies). But what does any of that have to do with Gaus Acoustics, and taking the Noise out of Sound? It’s all in the details! In fact, go ahead and skim this article again and you’ll see what I mean. It’s okay, I’ll wait.
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The Gaus Acoustics - Acoufelt Partnership
...caught back up? Good. See, It’s the details that Acoufelt and Pophouse paid attention to, the details of design, of acoustical expertise and materials, even down to the attention paid to the detail of the name 1912 Collection.
Its these details that are important to Gaus Acoustics, because we know that details matter when it comes to the right product for the right solution. And we have that solution for you. Call us and let’s talk about how we can help!