The following article was written for the Art Forward series from the Rahr-West Art Museum by Executive Director Greg Vadney.
As we celebrate the harvest season in Wisconsin, an old favorite is making its return to the Rahr-West Art Museum. The Art of Tablesetting began as a merging of two of Ruth West’s beloved past times and has grown into an eclectic showcase of how we set our tables.
It began in 1974 when museum advocate and community patroness Mrs. Ruth West decided to organize an exhibit of tables with decorations inspired by a work of art from the museum collection. Through The Little Gallery, an organization of local artists that had existed in Manitowoc since 1933, the museum hosted 22 tablesettings comprised of artistically designed tables, dishware, glassware and flatware, and accompanied by a piece of art from what was then known as the Rahr Museum and Civic Center.
1976 Bon Safari Table Setting
This first exhibition, entitled ‘Still Life and Creative Table Settings,’ filled the rooms of the historic Vilas-Rahr Mansion for one week, November 3 through 10. Immediately popular, the exhibition expanded and became an annual tradition. Mrs. West created tables with themes as varied as safari, bonsai, and disco. The number of designers and variety of “tablescapes” continued to grow.
Today, The Art of Tablesetting is installed in the gallery that bears Ruth West’s name and is comprised of art and tables created by diverse members of our community. The Rahr-West Art Museum is proud to keep the annual tradition alive, engaging designers to think of creative new ways to tablescape and inspiring the public to think about the different ways we share a table.
Museum director Greg Vadney explains “This exhibit has continued for forty-seven years because it speaks to the different ways we engage in one of the most primal, important human endeavors: sharing a meal. It might be formal, it might be traditional, or it might be on the tailgate at the Lambeau parking lot, but we all connect memories with meals.”
The Art of Tablesetting adds to memory-making with the connection of artwork, oftentimes selected from the museum’s sizeable collection, into the individual displays. They work to drive a theme or to reinforce the theme of the tablescape. This year, the forty-seventh year of the exhibit, you will find tables inspired by artists like Andy Warhol and Piet Mondrian as well as tables inspired by the artwork of your friends and neighbors.
The Art of Tablesetting is a community-curated event, meaning that designers are chosen from the Manitowoc community. While you visit and enjoy this year’s exhibit, open now through November 7, the museum invites you to consider applying to participate in The Art of Tablesetting 2022.
Would-be Table Setters are asked to submit an application and setting idea to the Rahr-West Art Museum. The museum will review and select winning proposals in late spring 2022 for participation in the October 2022 version of The Art of Tablesetting.
The Rahr-West Art Museum also reminds you to be creative at home with your table setting. Everyone can be an artist and artistry can make meals into memorable events.
