International Museum of Dinnerware Design facts for kids
Guests speaking with Margaret Carney [right], founding director and chief curator of IMoDD
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| Former name | The Dinnerware Museum |
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| Established | 2012 |
| Location | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Collection size | 9,000 objects |
| Founder | Margaret Carney |
The International Museum of Dinnerware Design (IMoDD) is a special design museum located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was started in 2012 by Margaret Carney. This museum collects, saves, and celebrates amazing dinnerware from all over the world. Dinnerware includes plates, bowls, cups, and everything you use to eat! IMoDD shows how different cultures and societies think about food and dining. It also honors the beautiful objects that make eating special. The museum has about 9,000 items in its collection. These include works by modern artists and famous designers.
Contents
History of IMoDD
Margaret Carney created the International Museum of Dinnerware Design in Ann Arbor in 2012. She loved the work of top dinnerware designers like Eva Zeisel and Russel Wright. In the late 1990s, Margaret began thinking about a museum just for dinnerware. She wanted to see if people were interested.
A famous designer named Eva Zeisel passed away in 2011. This encouraged Margaret to start her museum plans. Eva had supported Margaret's dream. So, in 2012, Margaret moved to Ann Arbor and officially started the museum.
Pop-Up Exhibits
The museum does not have its own building. This is because commercial space in Ann Arbor can be very expensive. Instead, IMoDD shows its collection in "pop-up" exhibits. These are special shows at other places, especially in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. These pop-up exhibits usually last from a few days to several months. For example, one of its first shows was "Whetting Your Appetite" in Chicago in 2013.
In 2017, the museum changed its name from "The Dinnerware Museum." The new name, "The International Museum of Dinnerware Design," better shows its goal. It wants to capture dining history from around the world. It also focuses on how dinnerware is designed. The museum does not have paid staff. However, it has had interns from the University of Michigan and other volunteers. Margaret Carney is still the Director and Chief Curator.
Since it began, IMoDD has held special exhibitions every two years. These shows have included fun themes like "The Art of High Chair Fine Dining" (2014) and "Cake" (2016). Other themes have been "Butter" (2019), "Breakfast" (2021), and "Entomophagous Dining" (2023).
Museum Collections
The International Museum of Dinnerware Design celebrates an important part of our daily lives. Its permanent collection features dinnerware from ancient times to the future. The objects are made from many different materials. These include ceramic, glass, metal, plastic, wood, and even yarn!
The collection has historic dinnerware by famous designers. Some of these include Eva Zeisel, Russel Wright, and Arne Jacobsen. It also features amazing works by hundreds of modern artists. These artists include Warren MacKenzie and Ruth Duckworth.
Besides dinnerware, IMoDD also collects art that is not for eating. This "fine art" shows ideas about dining. Examples include art by Roy Lichtenstein and Sandy Skoglund. The museum has over 9,000 objects in its collection.
Exhibitions and Learning Programs
The International Museum of Dinnerware Design has offices and storage in Ann Arbor. But since it doesn't have its own museum building, it works with other local museums, galleries, and libraries. It has put on more than twenty exhibitions since 2012. Three successful shows were held at SOFA (Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art + Design) in Chicago.
Past Exhibitions
Some of IMoDD's other exciting exhibits include:
- "Unforgettable Dinnerware" in Ypsilanti, MI (2013).
- "Three Courses" in Ann Arbor, MI (2014).
- "Coffee" at Zingerman's Coffee Company, Ann Arbor, MI (2015).
- "TEA" at Zingerman's Coffee Company, Ann Arbor, MI (2015).
- "Delicious Dishes" at the Riverside Arts Center, Ypsilanti, MI (2015).
- "Thirst Quenchers" at the Ann Arbor District Library (2016).
- "Dining Mid-Century" in Ann Arbor, MI (2017).
- "Unapologetic Dinnerware: a brief history of disposable dinnerware" (2018).
- "Tabletop Stories" with the Ann Arbor District Library (2019).
- "Sculptural Dinnerware" at the University of Michigan (2020).
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, IMoDD showed "Delicious Dish Distractions" online (2020). This paired collection items with foods like pasta or grilled cheese.
- "One Table Oodles of Dishes" was an online show (2021).
- "Colorful California Dinnerware" at the University of Michigan (2021).
- "Dish Night at the Movies" at the Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI (2023).
- "Dining on Modernism" in Palm Springs, CA (2023).
Educational Programs
The museum also offers learning programs with its exhibits. These include public talks at places like SOFA Chicago and the Ann Arbor District Library. They also give tours during almost all public exhibitions. Sometimes, they even offer behind-the-scenes tours of their storage areas.
Recently, IMoDD has worked with the Ann Arbor District Library on a virtual lecture series. It's called "Unforgettable Dinnerware." These online talks cover many different topics. For example, they've had talks about:
- A tour of the museum's collection with Dr. Margaret Carney.
- The life of designer Eva Zeisel.
- How "Dish Night" movie giveaways helped Hollywood.
- The history of plastic dishes.
- Insect foods and the future.
Museum Newsletter
Since 2015, the International Museum of Dinnerware Design has published a yearly newsletter called MENU. This newsletter shares details about the museum's exhibitions, new items it has collected, and its learning programs from that year.
