In 1984, Sister Mildred R. Barker reflected critically on the popularity of Shaker designs, emphasizing the philosophy at the core of Shaker artifacts: “That’s the religion.” Shakers expressed faith through labor as well as in dance, song, and documentation of personal visions, known as gift drawings. These images show how their makers understood their relationship to God and the larger Shaker community. Despite the Society’s decline in the 20th century, their unique perspective and rich material culture continued to attract creatives, collectors, and scholars, fueling what has been coined as “Shaker fever” and sparking
both enthusiasm and criticism. In a world facing the consequences of global political upheaval, generations of mass consumerism, and extractive resource policies, the Shakers’ dramatically different visions of belief, community, and capitalism represent an alternative history of the 19th and 20th centuries, which offers lessons for the future. What does it mean to build today for tomorrow?

Learn more about the Shakers in the exhibition - link in bio @vitradesignmuseum

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Reel: art/beats @artbeatsberlin