Art Libraries Society of North America 31^st Annual Conference
Wyndham Baltimore Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland - March 20-26, 2003

DECORATIVE ARTS ROUND TABLE (DART) Business Meeting

SUBMITTED BY:  STEPHEN VAN DYK, ELIZABETH BROMAN AND ERIN ELLIOTT 

Seven attended the annual business meeting of DART held on Monday March 24, 2003.  We first discussed the viability of this round table –should we continue and what is our mission? Co-chair Stephen Van Dyk led a discussion on the importance of getting together annually with others who are associated with design, decorative art, and craft collections. The general consensus from the group was that it is important for us to continue as a Round Table to discuss these issues and to continue as a forum for ARLIS members interested in the decorative arts and for getting to know members with similar interests. It was decided that we will self-schedule our next DART meeting at the ARLIS/NA Conference in New York City. It was also decided that as a group DART should continue to identify and promote topics for panel sessions in these subject areas that would be of interest to ARLIS/NA members. 

Several DART members were actively involved in the Baltimore Conference as coordinators, moderators, and session recorders. It was felt that the art historical type of sessions DART typically supports should be continued. They are well received by ARLIS/NA members, and are an entertaining and educational part of the annual programs and contribute greatly to the depth and variety of conference sessions. 

This year Elizabeth Broman of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and Kathy Woodrell of the Library of Congress moderated a session on regional decorative arts titled “Fine and Folk: Traditional Decorative Arts of Baltimore”. Linda Seckelson from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, moderated a session on “Baltimore Collects”. Stephen Van Dyk, from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and Greta Earnest from the Bard Graduate Center moderated a panel session on “Cabinets of Wonder”. All were well attended and well received by conference attendees. The ideas for these sessions were generated at the annual DART meeting at the 2002 ARLIS/NA Conference in St. Louis.

DART is investigating subject related tours and programs for the ARLIS/NA 2004 Conference in New York City. Some initial suggestions that will be presented to the NY Conference Planning Committee included a tour of Radio City Music Hall, and a visit to the Costume Collections at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Some session ideas include Jewish Decorative Arts since Passover will fall during the conference next year, fashion and New York City, and some session on craft with some collaboration with the American Design Museum, (formerly the American Craft Museum). Elizabeth Broman, of the Cooper- Hewitt National Design Museum, and Erin Elliott from the Bard Graduate Center will be the coming year’s DART Co-Chairpersons.