On Exhibit: Toy Story

By
Eve Glasberg
December 29, 2015

Puzzles, a folding dollhouse, 19th century peep shows, pop-up books and Lego models are all on display in “Classics at Play,” an exhibition of architectural toys from the Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library collection.

The notion of play can be traced to German educator Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852), who established the first kindergarten with the aim of addressing children’s singular needs and capabilities. Up until that time, toys were intended only for amusement while books and instruction were used for education. Froebel created playthings to give children educational experiences, including wood blocks in various shapes and sizes known today as Froebel blocks. Many artists, inventors and architects have credited these blocks with teaching them the spatial geometry of design and architecture, including Frank Lloyd Wright, Buckminster Fuller, Josef Albers, Paul Klee and Charles Eames.

Other items on view, such as playing cards with caricatures of well-known architects and monuments of the modern movement, are oriented towards a more sophisticated audience and assume a familiarity with 20th century architecture. Also included is a set of contemporary Froebel blocks for creating a prairie house inspired by Wright’s work.

The “Classics at Play” exhibition continues through Jan. 29. For more information, visit the Avery Library website at library.columbia.edu/locations/avery.