British porcelain cup and saucer with yellow ground and puce decoration, circa 1790, acquired by the late American, Southern poet, Starkey Flythe. Photo by J. Franks, 2020.
During the pandemic, most of us are spending more time at home. Collected objects of art and design may act as comforting reminders of missed family, friends, or travels.
Art as a proven tool for well-being is needed now more than ever. I am encouraged by the many private and public art organizations recognizing this, along with the Canadian Society of Decorative Arts (CSDA), with whom I partnered to improve mental health through the Zoom series “Collectors at Home". For our series, the CSDA is encouraging member entries of contemporary to historic works of decorative art and design, which will be selected for an educational style format. As Curator, I will assist in the identification and narration of objects submitted, along with their owners, who will share their object stories. Some of these entries, with permission, will be featured in CSDA media, including its award-winning magazine, Ornamentum, Canada's premier publication on Decorative Arts and Design.