Alexander Girard

Alexander Girard was born in New York in 1907 to an American mother from Boston and a French-Italian father. He was raised in Florence, Italy. A graduate of the Royal School of Architecture in Rome, Girard refined his skills in both Florence and New York. Girard is widely known for his contributions in the field of American textile design, particularly through his work for Herman Miller (1952 to 1975), where he created fabrics for the designs of George Nelson and Charles and Ray Eames. Alexander was brought to Herman Miller in 1952 by his friend Charles Eames to add warmth to is desings; and 50 years later his exuberant textiles are still the best possible complement to a streamlined chair or sofa.

He had a lifelong fascination with toys, and in 1963 designed a range of painted Wooden Dolls (first picture) sporting feather headdresses and kooky expressions. The Wooden Dolls, which Girard created for his own home in Santa Fe and made himself, are likewise inspired by his own extensive collection of works of popular art and by his fascination with Mexican folk art. Half decorative element, half toy, the Wooden Dolls were originally intended only for personal use

But now you can buy his dolls in Vitra (http://www.vitra.com/)

His work also includes designing the La Fonda del Sol Restaurant in New York (1960), the L'Etoile Restaurant (1966) in the Sherry Netherlands Hotel, New York, a French restaurant with austere decor featuring a range of silver and greys featuring glass engraved with the names of French luminaries and playful daisy shaped tables in the bar. The Compound Restaurant (1967), in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is in a clean modern yet traditional New Mexican style with inlaid Mexicotton ceiling tiles and nichos featuring a mix of folk art and Girard’s own designs.

There´s a Girard Collection in Museum of Internatinal Folk Art (MOIFA), and Catalina and I want to go there. The Museum is in Santa Fe so it´s a good excuse to go to USA. Anybody else want to come with us?

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Alexander Girard nación en Nueva York en 1907, siendo su madre americana y su padre franco-italiano. Criado en Florencia y graduado en el Royal School of Architecture de Roma, Girard perfeccionó su estilo entre Florencia y Nueva York. Girad es enomemente conocido por su contribución al campo del diseño textil americano, particularmente con su para Herman Miller (1952 to 1975), donde creó tejidos para los diseños de George Nelson y Charles and Ray Eames. En realidad, Girard entró en Herman Miller a través de su amigo Charles Eames, para añadir más calidez a sus diseños. Cincuenta años más tarde sus tejidos son todavía el mejor complemento posible para una silla o un sofá.
Toda su vida estuvo fascinado por los juguetes, por lo que en 1963 diseñó una serie de muñecos de madera (The Wooden Dolls), que tenían plumas en la cabeza y unas expresiones de muñecos chifados. Estos Wooden Dolls, que Girard creó para su propia casa en Santa Fe, estaban inspirados en su gran colección de arte popular y en su fascinación por el arte folk mejicano. Medo decorativos, medio juguetes, The Wooden Dolls fueron creados originariamente para su uso personal. Pero ahora los puedes conseguir en Vitra (http://www.vitra.com/).

Su trabajo también incluye el diseño de varios restaurantes, como la Fonda del Sol (1960) de Nueva York, The L´Etoile (1966) en el Sherry Netherlands Hotel, también en Nueva York o The Compound Restaurant (1967) en Santa Fe.

Existe una Girard Collection en el Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) y Catalina y yo queremos ir. El museo está en Santa Fe, por lo que ya tenemos excusa para ir a Estados Unidos. ¿Alguien más quiere ir con nosotras?