The “Closer to Home” installation in the Gatewood Art Gallery is an installation conceptually celebrating Edward Loewenstein and modern design in Greensboro. Modern design and the work of Loewenstein are showcased through the exhibit in a design reflecting the work of Loewenstein himself.
The materials, color choices, and the play with light assist in manifesting the concept of the exhibit by creating a modern space to exist in. The wood and the different stains chosen express Loewenstein’s idea, as well as modernism’s idea of honesty of the materials. A darker palate of colors would have been better. Creating more of a contrast would make the graphics and text stand out more, they seem to get lost in a sea of natural wood, that also does not really coincide with the gallery. The mix of the natural materials of wood, with the industrial steel rods and meshing is a nice contrast expressing the connection of man made to nature. The way light plays into the space really manifests the concept. When the light shines through the gallery windows just right, the installation comes into a whole new life, which really expresses the whole point of the exhibit.
This image gazing from inside the gallery back to the lobby shows how the exhibit is affected by light and how alive in can become when it shines through just right. Loewenstein’s designs were warm and inviting, embracing life, which is the purpose of Closer to Home; the appreciation of modernism as a mechanism for living and experiencing life.
In support of the concept, all the images, texts, and graphics are all geared toward passing on information about Loewenstein and modern design in Greensboro. This installation is a great way to get the meaning of modernism out to the public of Greensboro, and the most understandable way of doing so is through text and images. Without these, the exhibit would be practically unreadable. The heart of the exhibit is to get the information and the excitement of modernism out to others.
The most successful media in the exhibit is all of the pictures. They are a great window into the past. The collaboration of images of the architecture, as well as images of Loewenstein, his firm, and the pictures from Woman’s College really bring the project “closer to home”, making it more relatable. Anyone can understand the meaning of a picture. The text was interesting and helpful, if you had time to sit and read it. Along the lines of which media was the most successful, the pictures had a much bigger impact in expressing the concept than the textual information did.
This image is the wall with the picture of Loewenstein on it, crossing the barrier of the gallery and the lobby. This is the wall that stood out the most, the bold image expressed Loewenstein’s importance as an architect and individual. There is a huge impact on visitors walking into the installation because the exhibit engulfs you into modernism. It is almost surreal, the gallery is so warm, and the lighting gives the whole area a soft glow. It is a desirable place to exist. This warmth in the expression of modernism will have a great impact on the skeptics of modernism because it proves that modernism can be warm and livable.

Detailed Program and Intent Phase III

Detailed Program:
*Bed
*Crib
*Dresser
*Chair
*Night Stand with lamp
*Pack and Play
*Desk with lamp
*Shelving
*Ceiling fan
*Blinds and curtains
* and Accents in consideration
of the good, bad, ugly materials

Intent:
Through color and the use of the good, bad, and ugly materials, as well as the continuing idea of pushing and pulling, I will create a suite with three private spaces for moms and their infants that mesh together cohesively to be viewed as one. I want each space to feel warm, and to have opportunities for the mothers to add their own to make it feel more personalized. I will supply the base and the girls will be able to create their home.