John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
The Cantor Arts Center is hosting an exhibition titled "Handle with Care," curated by Patrick R. Crowley, associate curator of European art. Open to visitors until September 14, the exhibition explores the often overlooked design element: the handle. The exhibition is a collection of nearly 40 everyday objects, crossing various geographies, timelines, and types.
Veronica Roberts, the John and Jill Freidenrich Director of the Cantor, describes the exhibition as "a fascinating cross-section of the Cantor’s eclectic collection," bringing together "objects from antiquity to the early 20th century, including Greek drinking cups, a Mughal shield, a Chinese hand mirror, and a miniature cane." Roberts emphasizes its role as a catalyst for academic inquiry, blending disciplines such as art, design, archaeology, engineering, and disability studies.
The exhibition presents different sections, examining how handles affect our interaction with objects by influencing our perception of position, movement, and force. Additionally, it looks at how handles, coupled with spouts on vessels, create a flow-controlling system, and it considers the impact of broken handles on our relationship with objects.
Visitors can utilize a touch table in the exhibition, engaging directly with the handle’s influence on both physical and psychological aspects by interacting with objects such as a vessel, stereoscope, and a drinking cup. Crowley points out that handles raise philosophical questions about aesthetic autonomy while also highlighting their function as a human-centric design element. He expresses hope that the exhibition offers a balance between theory and practice.
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