Michigan native's decorative art on display at Cranbrook Art Museum

The works of Michigan native John Bloom and photographer Richard Knight will be displayed until March 22 at Crankbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills.
From the earliest works of Frank Lloyd Wright to the more contemporary furniture of George Nakashima, Michigan native John Bloom (1935-2006) spent his life studying and collecting important objects of decorative art and design that span the course of the 20th century. He lived and worked with the objects that he loved, according to a press release, always hoping that these exceptional pieces would someday find a home at Cranbrook.
Bloom ultimately bequeathed his collection to Cranbrook Art Museum. The collection as a whole reflects Bloom's strong interests in the decorative arts of the Arts and Crafts movement, Art Deco metalwork, and mid-century design. Highlights of the Bloom bequest include seven stained glass windows from a variety of major buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, a Luc Lanel-designed Art Deco vase for the prominent French manufacturer Christofle, and furniture by Modern masters such as Mies van der Rohe, Nakashima, Charles and Ray Eames, Finn Juhl and Vladimir Kagan.
The exhibition showcases masterpieces never seen together before in a public exhibition, offering the visitor a rare opportunity to view the 20th century decorative objects through the eyes of this passionate collector.
Richard Knight's photographs offer an unprecedented glimpse behind the scenes at the architectural practice and office of Eero Saarinen and Associates. His photographs cover the period from 1957 to Saarinen's death in 1961, when Saarinen was working on iconic projects like the Dulles International Airport Terminal, the former TWA Terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Working as Saarinen's "house photographer," Knight documented in black and white photographs both the professional process and personal dynamics of this celebrated office. Many of the photographs featured in this exhibition are collected in a recent monograph and personal memoir by Richard Knight published by William Stout Publishers, San Francisco, titled Saarinen's Quest: A Memoir of A Photographer. The book, which will be available for purchase in The Store at Cranbrook Art Museum, includes a foreword on Saarinen's artistic vision and office culture by Cesar Pelli, who began his career in the architect's office.
For more information, call 1-877-462-7262 or visit http://www.cranbrookart.edu.