Jack, Larger than Life

Jack, Larger than Life, is an intimate portrait of creator-collector Jack Lenor Larsen (1927-2020). His innovative textiles are presented side by side with his various "enthusiasms," the objects of craft and art he assiduously gathered, as well as the clothing he collected and wore. Over 100 objects from the several thousand in LongHouse Reserve's collection are juxtaposed with Jack's pronouncements and videotapes of his interviews.

Nearly fifty iconic Larsen Textile lengths fill the gallery with color, texture and pattern, including major commissions such as Leverlin for Lever House, New York's first International Style high rise, Swazi Drapery for the Wolf Trap Theater; and Magnum, with light-reflecting mirror Mylar, for the Phoenix Opera House. Items from Jack's personal collections are also on view, woven together with his textiles to create a comprehensive view of this icon of craft and design.