see her in Israel, where she moved in 1970,
first opening a studio and later working for the
country's Ministry of Commerce and Industry
"My aunt developed an interest in art and
design while working in her father's jewelry
store," says Banet, whose personal keepsakes
include Red Wing Art Pottery and a portrait
completed when Kogan was still a student.
"She thought she would be a painter but
was challenged by a manufacturer who saw her
talents and wanted her to produce silverware.
"My aunt always said she used New York
resources, such as the Metropolitan Museum
of Art, to inspire her with designs from the
past. I don't think she designed any Judaica,
but she did have a six-pointed star embedded
in one of her best-known designs."
Constantin Boym, whose museum installa-
tions have been seen at New York's Center
for Jewish History and the Museum of
Jewish Heritage, takes satisfaction in the way
the Toledo exhibit shows the achievements
and energy of the city.
"An exhibition should be an experience,
not just the sum of artifacts," says Boym,
who also accepts product design work and
teaches the subject at New York's Parson
School of Design.
"The exhibit in Toledo was one of the
largest and longest that I've worked on. We
wanted it to articulate the design history of
the city while having people start to pay more
attention to the shapes of everyday things."
Boym, who was one of a small number of
Jews allowed to emigrate from Russia in
1981, graduated from the Moscow
Architectural Institute and earned a master's
degree in design from the Domus Academy
in Milan. He has had his own studio sinc e
1986 and frequently lectures at art schools,
"The Alliance of Art and Industry: Toledo
Designs for Modern America" runs
through June 16 at the Toledo Museum
of Art, 2445 Monroe Street. Hours are 10
a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays; 10 a.m.-10
p.m. Fridays; and 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sundays. $5 except 5-10 p.m. Fridays,
when there is no fee. (800) 644 6862.
IDAeqi Aq oqd
Curator Davira Taragin worked five years to prepare "The Alliance of Art and
Industry: Toledo Designs for Modern America." Installation designer Constantin
Boym planned the way the exhibit is arranged The late Belle Kogan will be
remembered as an industrial design pioneer
including Cranbrook.
With many companies showcased, there
was an array of small objects for Boym to
place. Larry and Susann Spilkin, of
Birmingham, part of a large community of
local Jewish collectors, let the museum bor-
row three pieces of colorful Plaskon
stemware. They were designed by Harold
Van Doren and John Gordon Rideout for
the National Silver Company.
"I bought the pieces at an antique show,
and I researched that they were done in the
1930s and won an award," Larry Spilkin
recalls. "When we started collecting, glass
was our first love, and we were drawn to art
deco and art nouveau objects.
"We were very impressed with the total
exhibit in Toledo and thought our pieces
were well displayed. Everything just seemed
to be done very tastefully" ❑
2002
71