The Art Deco design movement (1925 to 1939) an elegant, functional and modern design style celebrated a time of innovation, decoration and decadence. Deco design is characterized by the use of mathematical geometric shapes, symmetry and repetition, with the use of machine technology including materials such as glass, aluminium and stainless steel. Deco influences are found in architecture, interior design, industrial design, graphic art, painting, film and fashion. Add some deco dynamism to your world.

The deco style took off in a big way after the austere years of the first world war, the roaring 20’s were a time of social artistic and cultural excitement. The look was deco, the sound was jazz and the attitude bold, the fashion of the flapper.

The look:

La Société des artistes décorateurs was a collective of French artists who heavily influenced the principles of art deco. They organized an event in 1925 to demonstrate French decorative art’s leading position in this worldwide evolution, Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes.

The architecture, represented the progress and optimism of the machine age, still the most stylish form of skyscrapers. Decopix have some awesome art deco architecture.

The Chrysler Building built in 1929-30 in New York, designed by deco architect Wiliam Van Alen.

Deco epitomized the opulence and confidence of the era in all facets of industrial design, including transport, communication, housing and domestic goods. Check out decodame for authentic deco things.

The fashion was ‘tres moderne’, a wonderful example of the visual inspiration of the time is russian born french painter and designer Erte‘, and below, his deco design Top Hats.

Fritz Lang’s beautiful futuristic silent film Metropolis from 1927.

For anybody wanting to see more deco in Melbourne, the National Gallery of Victoria will be presenting an Art Deco 1910-1939 exhibition from June 28th - October 5th 2008.

The sound:

In the roaring twenties, speakeasies with live jazz and illicit alcohol (due to a prohibition from 1920-1933) were the place to be. Jazz evolved from this smaller lively scene to larger scale entertainment, from the afro-american influence, King Oliver’s Jazz Orchestra to the biq white bands of the time, Glenn Miller’s Orchestra, 1927 resident band at New York’s Cotton Club. In the Mood summed up the feeling of the times and evolved to big band swing.

The King of Jazz a film from 1930 starring Paul Whiteman and his orchestra has some spectacular jazz performances.

The attitude:

The flapper stood for all things decadent. The fashions were deco inspired for a more active ‘moderne girl ‘ who drank, smoked and danced all night. The literature, The Great Gatsby written by F.Scott Fitzgerald superbly portrays the opulence and decadence of the times. The 1974 film The Great Gatsby, starring Robert Redford is a sight to behold for the deco fan.

The attitude of the times is beautifully captured by performer Josephine Baker who has continued to inspire us today. A beautiful and intelligent woman. A talented singer and dancer. She is the Stylopath Art Deco Poster Girl.

Josephine Baker

The deco era came to a close by the end of the 1930’s. Mass production had resulted in a proliferation of all things deco. The excitement, exuberance and decadence of deco became passe and made way for more gloomy times with the onset of the second world war.

The Art Deco 2008 Regional Festival will celebrate and showcase Victoria’s rich Art Deco history through exhibition, tours, activities, lectures and more from August 30 to September 28.

Defined as the period encompassing the two World Wars (1914 – 1918 and 1939 – 1945), Art Deco embraced simplicity and elegance as compared to the excessively decorated styles of previous years.

The explosion of colour, exotic influences, new technologies, the use of lines and curves, stylization in artwork and printing are key indicators of the Art Deco style. It was the age of the flapper girl, Hollywood and the luxury ocean liner, and it revolutionized design in all aspects of life and art.

From fashion and architecture to household appliances and furniture, regional Victoria has significant streetscapes and collections from the Art Deco period. Highlights of these treasures featured during the Festival include a bus tour of Maryborough’s Art Deco buildings and houses (Art Deco Revisited, 30/08), an exhibition of vintage and classic cars and bikes in Maffra (The Art Deco Bloke and His Shed, 31/08), an exhibition of clothing, photographs, posters and equipment used in the High Country during the Art Deco period (Art Deco in Benalla, 31/08-02/11) and an online or self-drive tour of more than 20 Art Deco style private and public 1920 – 1940’s properties on the Mornington Peninsula (Peninsula Art Deco Tour, 27/09).

Victorian Minister for the Arts, Lynne Kosky said the Festival offered an important opportunity for the people of Victoria to become more familiar with one of the 20th century’s great artistic periods in their own environment: “Communities throughout regional Victoria hold wonderful examples of the Art Deco style, and the Victorian Government is proud to support this festival. I encourage you to take this opportunity to discover some of Victoria’s Deco delights and hidden treasures.”

The month long Regional Festival coincides with this year’s Melbourne Winter Masterpieces blockbuster at the National Gallery of Victoria, featuring more than 300 Art Deco treasures from around the world. Organised by London’s famed Victoria and Albert Museum, Art Deco 1910-1939 will run at the NGV until 5 October.

The Regional Art Deco Festival is a joint project of Museums Australia (Victoria) and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, supported by the State Government.

The Art Deco 2008 Regional Festival is a pilot sector development partnership project of Museums Australia (Victoria) and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria with funding of $100,00 from Arts Victoria. Timed to coincide with the National Gallery of Victoria’s Art Deco 1910 – 1939 Winter Masterpieces exhibition the Festival showcases the art deco buildings and historical collections in regional Victoria, and increases the skills, capacity and networks of the heritage sector, as well as tourist visitation and audiences.

Great enthusiasm for the theme and concept of a coordinated festival resulted in a program of 20 events presented across Victoria in September 2008. Activities include exhibitions, dances, talks, walking tours and oral histories. Participating organizations are supported by Festival branding, marketing materials and a web site.

The Festival delivers long-lasting benefits for the participating organizations, their communities and for cultural tourism across the state, and demonstrates the passion and capacity of community museums, historical societies and regional galleries to extend their outreach into the tourism and community sectors.

The quality and creativity of the activities has inspired me and increased my knowledge and enjoyment of the art deco era. I am proud to have been the coordinator of this project and to have had the privilege of working with the heritage sector.

Janice Haynes
Coordinator
Art Deco 2008 Regional Festival

Extensive write up on Marjorie Stedeford