IT'S BEEN 100 YEARS SINCE JUDITH AND GERSON LEIBER WERE BORN. CELEBRATE THEIR LIFE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH ARTFUL CIRCLE! |
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Join Ann Fristoe Stewart, Leiber Collection Director/Curator
and Debbie Wells of Artful Circle for a two part virtual presentation.
The Leiber Centennial
A Visionary Pair
JUDITH LEIBER
Internationally Famous Handbag Designer
GERSON LEIBER
Renowned Modernist American Artist
Two Part Mini Series: May 10 & May 24 (both at 11am)
DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND...
Learn about the Leibers for the first time or if you already attended our previous Pop-Up a few months ago, please join us again for a new look at the Leiber Legacy with detailed information about their
personal creative process and techniques described like never before.
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Part One - Monday, May 10 at 11am
Judith Leiber
From Inspiration to Showroom
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"Hitler put me in the handbag business" explains Judith Leiber when talking about the trajectory of her design career. As a young woman, Judith got the opportunity to learn the time honored skills of constructing a handbag at the Hungarian Handbag Makers Guild and it didn't take long for her to become one of the first female master artisans in the world. She brought that expertise (and her treasured toolbox) with her from Hungary to New York City and quickly established her career. Her handbag empire, envisioned alongside her husband Gerson, was built on the foundation of her incredible imagination and attention to detail. Debbie and Ann will discuss the Judith Leiber process from conception through the mechanics of designing unique shapes and choosing materials to create her signature style. Leiber personally shared her life-long knowledge with Ann and now Ann will pass it on to our audience - a real treat for those interested in how Leiber produced her creations!
Above: (L-R): Judith holds one of her special tools and see the way she used it to embellish her pieces. Center: Gerson's paintbrushes on display next to an array of tools used by Judith at the Purses & Paintings exhibition at the Art League of Long Island curated by Debbie Wells and Ann Fristoe Stewart in 2017.
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(L-R): Three wax models she used to create her minaudière purses and a finished product: Penguin with Crystal Rhinestones and Semi Precious Stone Details, 1991
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Part Two - Monday, May 24 at 11am
Gerson Leiber
Accomplished Abstract Artist Retrospective
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Born in Brooklyn in 1921, Gerson Leiber began his artistic career during World War II while stationed in Budapest, Hungary. While there, he fell hard for the elegant Judith and their love story began. He studied at the Royal Academy of Art in Budapest and, after the war, took up printmaking and painting at the Art Students League of New York. He later studied engraving with Gabor Peterdi at the Brooklyn Museum Art School.
Gerson later focused his attention on the handbag business with Judith, but always worked on his own fine art interests as well.
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Above: Two Fur Models ,1981, oil, 60x50 in, by Gerson Leiber. It was one of the fashion-themed paintings on display at the Leibers' showroom.
Gerson Leiber, Suggest The Plausible But Go
No Further, 2016, oil, 30x40 in, Leonard Tourné Gallery
As an American Abstract Expressionist painter, sculptor, and lithographer, Gerson maintained his own art studio in New York City and Springs, East Hampton. Leiber has had dozens of solo exhibitions and his work is represented in more than 50 museum collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum, National Gallery of Art, Boston Museum of Fine Art and the Yale University Art Gallery.
This lecture will give you a VIP virtual visit to celebrate the artist in a major exhibition of his work at Leonard Tourné Gallery (open May 29), a prestigious international art gallery located at 745 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. His work will also be on view in Centennial Legacy - A Celebration of the Life, Art & Love of Judith and Gerson Leiber (open May 29) at the Leiber Collection in the East Hampton hamlet of Springs.
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Leiber's spectacular painting,: Three Models in Mink, 1983, oil, 51 x 61 in, is one of our favorites! |
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The Story of
Judy & Gus...
Anyone interested in fashion, art, World War II experiences, business, New York life, romance and more will be fascinated by the Leibers!
Get behind-the-scenes with stories about them from those who knew them well and understood their shared passion for art, fashion and culture - and each other. Both passed away within hours of each other (she at age 97, he at 96 years old) in 2018, after 72 years of marriage. This year would have been the 100th anniversary of their births and it is important to honor them by sharing our thoughts with you!
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Cost: $80
Artful Circle will make a donation to The Judith & Gerson Leiber Foundation from the proceeds of this event
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