Dallas, TX—November 18, 2016— Shaken, Stirred, Styled: The Art of the Cocktail examines the art and culture of the cocktail through the wares in which they were prepared and served. The exhibition, on view at the Dallas Museum of Art November 18, 2016, through November 12, 2017, follows the development of the modern cocktail from the late 19th century to the present day, tracing the stylistic reflections of the rituals of the cocktail’s preparation, presentation, and consumption. Drawn primarily from the DMA’s collection of decorative arts and design, the exhibition features a range of objects, many of which are on view for the first time.
Shaken, Stirred, Styled features more than 60 objects in metalware, glassware, and ceramics. These include 19th-century punch bowls, Prohibition-era cocktail shakers, and Art Deco and modern barware. Organized chronologically, the exhibition begins by examining the invention of the cocktail as a result of changes in technology, labor, and recreation in the mid-19th century, then moves to the resurgence of the cocktail following the ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919, and continuing on to the impact of the Great Depression and repeal of Prohibition on cocktail culture through to the continued presence of cocktails in the second half of the 20th century.
“The Dallas Museum of Art is pleased to showcase in Shaken, Stirred, Styled work from our notable decorative arts collection. This exhibition, while fun, includes a significant number of objects from the Museum’s acclaimed collection of 20th-century American silver, and offers visitors an exciting opportunity to examine the artistic designs spanning more than 100 years of craftsmanship,” said Agustín Arteaga, the Museum’s Eugene McDermott Director. “DMA exhibitions like this, which feature works from our encyclopedic collection and area loans, also give us the chance to introduce to the community works of art in their museum that have previously never been shown.”
“Shaken, Stirred, Styled: The Art of the Cocktail draws on the permanent collection of the Dallas Museum of Art, innovative interpretation strategies, and local partners, including public and private collections and the service and hospitality industries, to provide visitors with an exhibition experience that is at once approachable, interactive, and instructive,” added Samantha Robinson, the DMA’s interim Assistant Curator of Decorative Arts and Design. “Visitors will gain an understanding of the ways in which political and social currents and quotidian practices impact design of cocktailware, as well as a new appreciation for the cocktail, a broad category of spirit-based mixed beverages that has undergone decades of evolution and, today, a period of revival and unprecedented experimentation.”
Visitors to the exhibition will be able to explore the history of spirits and cocktails through a digital interactive at the exhibition’s entrance as well as access a digital copy of the 1862 manual and recipe book How to Mix Drinks: Or, The Bon-vivant’s Companion, the first publication to document many of today’s classic cocktails. Also included as part of the digital interactive installation are seven videos highlighting cocktails and featuring demonstrations with Chad Solomon and Christy Pope of Cuffs and Buttons, a beverage consulting and catering company in New York, and Midnight Rambler, a craft cocktail salon in The Joule Hotel in Downtown Dallas.
The Dallas Museum of Art will toast Shaken, Stirred, Styled: The Art of the Cocktail during a special DMA Speakeasy event on Saturday, February 4, 2017. The password-only party will feature a costume contest, live music from the roaring 20s and the 1930s, dance tutorials, novelty gambling tables, and Prohibition-inspired cocktails. Tickets range from $65, with discounts for DMA Members, to $100 for VIP access, which includes a private lounge, casino, and open bar. Additional programs, including gallery talks, will be scheduled throughout the run of the exhibition. For dates, prices, and details, visit DMA.org.
Shaken, Stirred, Styled: The Art of the Cocktail is organized by the Dallas Museum of Art and curated by Samantha Robinson, the interim Assistant Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at the Dallas Museum of Art. The exhibition is presented by ROXOR Artisan Gin. Shaken, Stirred, Styled: The Art of the Cocktail is included in the Museum’s daily free general admission.
Images (left to right): "Penguin" cocktail shaker, Emile A. Schuelke, designer, Napier Company, manufacturer, Meriden, Connecticut, 1936, gilded silverplate, Dallas Museum of Art, The Jewel Stern American Silver Collection, gift of Jewel Stern, 2002.29.8.a–b; Jazz Bowl or New Yorker, Viktor Schreckengost, designer, Cowan Pottery Studio, maker, Rocky River, Ohio, c. 1930–31, earthenware, Dallas Museum of Art, The Patsy Lacy Griffith Collection, gift of Patsy Lacy Griffith by exchange, 2010.32; Waring Belndor, Peter Muller-Munk, designer, Frederick Jacob Osius, designer, Waring Corporation, manufacturer, designed c. 1937, manufactured c. 1937–41, glass, chromium plated metal, rubber, plastic, and steel, Dallas Museum of Art, Discretionary Decorative Arts Fund, 2014.13.a–c; Bar tools, Lella Vignelli, designer, Massimo Vignelli, designer, San Lorenzo, manufacturer, Milan, Italy, introduced 1972, silver, Dallas Museum of Art, The Jewel Stern American Silver Collection, Decorative Arts Fund, 2002.29.78.1–4; Martini glass, Valeri Timofeev, artist, c. 2001, silver gilt, plique-à-jour enamel, enamel, and unidentified hardstone, Dallas Museum of Art, Discretionary Decorative Arts Fund, 2014.21
About the Dallas Museum of Art
Established in 1903, the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) is among the 10 largest art museums in the country and is distinguished by its commitment to research, innovation and public engagement. At the heart of the Museum and its programs is its global collection, which encompasses more than 23,000 works and spans 5,000 years of history, representing a full range of world cultures. Located in the nation’s largest arts district, the Museum welcomes over 650,000 visitors annually and acts as a catalyst for community creativity, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds with a diverse spectrum of programming, from exhibitions and lectures to concerts, literary events, and dramatic and dance presentations. Since the Museum’s return to free general admission in 2013, the DMA has welcomed more than two and a half million visitors. For more information, visit DMA.org.
The Dallas Museum of Art is supported, in part, by the generosity of DMA Members and donors, the citizens of Dallas through the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, and the Texas Commission on the Arts.