About the Program:
Join the Art Deco Society of New York and esteemed automobile expert Ken Gross for a wonderfully illustrated presentation exploring striking automobiles and motorcycles as masterpieces of Art Deco design. This event will give us an exceptional look at how these exquisite designs evoke an era fueled by an optimistic view of modernity, and a desire to convey social status through conspicuous consumption.
Sign up today for an expert-led program showing how these remarkable vehicles exemplify the Art Deco style offering the perfect balance between classical cohesion and machine age progressivism. Gross will illustrate how the Art Deco style––which made excellent use of beautifully rounded forms, often inter-mixing baroque elements like stylized rays of the sun, and artfully melded gentle flowing curves with razor-sharp edges––became prevalent in the world of automobiles, especially in a few select marques and models from around the globe:
- With so many of the best Art Deco-styled automobiles built in France, we will discuss the sensuous, teardrop Talbot-Lago T150C-SS, along with voluptuous cars by Bugatti such as the 1935 Type 57 Aerolithe that was a styling and streamlining tour de force in its day, and more from Voisin, Delahaye, Peugeot, Panhard–Levassor, and Hispano–Suiza
- We will see how the Italians embraced streamlining, as evidenced by the sleek Alfa Romeo Berlinetta
- From the United States we’ll focus on a rare Stout Scarab, which presaged the modern minivan, a once-controversial Chrysler Imperial Airflow, and an experimental aerodynamic sedan from the Bendix Corporation
- We will also explore Czechoslovakia’s aircraft-inspired Tatra T77
…and more!
Our engaging presentation will focus on how, from 1930 to 1942, automobile designs became more organic, and streamlined, emulating the classic teardrop shape thought, at that time, to be perfect for cheating the wind. Gross will show us how the results were brought to life in cars with startling shapes that appeared as though they were ready to be embraced and caressed––even if they weren’t noticeably faster than their predecessors, they looked very fast! We will also see how cautious consumers tentatively embraced and then accepted this brave new look.
Even though this tour is online, it will include a live PowerPoint—with wonderful images that you will be able to see directly on your computer screen, tablet, or mobile device—as well as a moderated Q&A session with participants.
Can't join us at the time of the live event? No problem! When you register for the live program you are guaranteed to receive a recording of the entire program a few days after the live presentation, which you can watch at a time most convenient for you.
About the Speaker:
Ken Gross is the former Executive Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. His thirteen critically acclaimed Art Deco and streamlined car exhibitions have appeared at major Fine Art Museums nationwide. He is a 31-year Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Chief Class Judge, a member of the Selection Committee, and curates the rare marques, historic racing car, and historic hot rod classes.
Gross is a founding member of the International Chief Judges’ Advisory Group, and judges at many North American and European Concours. The author of twenty-four books on automobiles, Ken is a recipient of the Automotive Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Citation, the International Motor Press Association’s Ken W. Purdy award, the Motor Press Guild’s Dean Bachelor Award and the Lee Iacocca award.
Registration:
How to Register for ADSNY's Web-based programs:
- Click the gold Register button located to the left of the "About the Program" section
- Enter the requested information in the registration form and follow the instructions to pay online and complete your registration
- In a few moments, you will receive an email confirmation of your registration
- You will receive an email with the link and password to join your Zoom event before the program
For more information on Zoom, check out our How-to webpage
If you are having difficulty registering for this program please check the settings on your web browser to make sure that cookies and cross-site tracking are enabled. We recommend registering for programs through a desktop. If you need further assistance registering for this event, please email Info@ArtDeco.org, let us know which events you would like to register for, and we will send you an invoice.
All ticket sales are final. Sorry, there are no refunds or exchanges.
