Review: 'The Shakers: A World in the Making' at ICA Philadelphia

A review of the traveling exhibition 'The Shakers: A World in the Making' at the Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia criticizes its failure to capture the complexity and humanity of the Shaker community. The show, which debuted at the Vitra Design Museum, includes historic Shaker objects and contemporary works by artists such as Amie Cunat, Chris Liljenberg Halstrøm, and Reggie Wilson. The review notes that the exhibition's austere design and emphasis on the connection between Shaker craft and minimalist modern design overlook the vibrant, ornamented, and passionate aspects of Shaker culture, such as gift drawings by women and ecstatic worship. The exhibition is a collaboration with the Shaker Museum in Chatham, New York, and runs through August 9. It was curated by Mea Hoffmann and organized with the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Wüstenrot Foundation.