Article Summary

"The First American Modernists" 

Article by Lance Esplund, August 7, 2014

Esplund's article is about the Shakers, an American religious group facing extinction whose aesthetics and innovations have influenced modern design. Only three active followers remain of the group that developed their own style based on their core values. 

The Shakers are a Protestant sect that came to America from England in 1774. They strive to emulate the life of Christ by embracing celibacy, pacifism, and gender and racial equality. At their peak, the group reached around 6,000 people across eight states. 

Their architecture and furnishings reflected the beliefs of the Shakers while contributing to the modernization of style and design. Modesty was valued by the group and their simplistic work was an expression of that. Embellishment and ornamentation encouraged people to be prideful, a sin in the eyes of the Shakers. The beauty in their work lies in the utility rather than the traditional aesthetic. 

Esplund's article also touches on the fact that in a highly innovative new world which was experiencing Industrial Revolution, the Shakers helped maintain the value of craftsmanship. The influence of the artisans that created such unassuming but durable pieces ultimately stretched across the country and eventually across the Pacific to Japan to mesh with Zen-like ideals. 

Though the Shaker community has fallen victim to time, their presence remains in much of today's modern aesthetic: