bayer & bauhaus: how design shaped aspen

Wed, 12/19/2018 - 03:00 PM - Wed, 04/29/2020 - 04:00 PM

The Wheeler/Stallard house is a Queen Anne style Victorian built in 1888 by Jerome B. Wheeler. Edgar and Mary Ella Stallard moved into the house in 1905, purchased it in 1917, and the family lived there for 40 years. The house last served as the residence of the Aspen Institute’s president before the Aspen Historical Society purchased it in 1969 and converted it into a house museum and organization headquarters.
The second floor of the museum features exhibit space, with “bayer & bauhaus: how design shaped aspen” opening December 4th as part of Bauhaus 100: Aspen, a community-wide celebration of the centenary of the German art school “Bauhaus." This new exhibit delves into the profound, but often unnoticed influence of Herbert Bayer’s work on Aspen, Colorado. Following his arrival in 1946, Bayer’s Bauhaus ethos and artistic vision began to shape the modern aesthetic and way of life in the Aspen community. He pioneered historic preservation in the area, designed a Bauhaus-inspired campus at the Aspen Institute, influenced local architecture, built innovative earthworks and helped guide the community’s cultural and philosophic values. Aspen Historical Society’s never-before-exhibited Bayer collection offers a unique view into his extensive works - both fine art and commercial – sharing a glimpse into Bayer’s lasting impact through preliminary sketch studies, original prints, architectural drawings, graphic design works, historical photographs, and more.