From The Industrial Revolution to Art Deco—Connecting The Dots

Featured Speaker: Joel Levine

The Industrial Revolution caused significant social changes to information processing and worker housing, creating a need for new types of buildings. These needs were met by the new technologies of industrialization, steel, and reinforced concrete. Architects experimenting with these materials went on to create Art Deco and other innovative styles of architecture.

This presentation will explain the link between the disruptive social changes of the Industrial Revolution, the technology provided by the Industrial Revolution, and the creation of the Art Deco style.

Joel Levine has collected radios for several decades, focusing on the moderne styles of the 1930s and MiMo-inspired designs of the 1950s.  He has been an MDPL tour guide for ten years and has presented lectures at MDPL, Art Deco Week in Napier New Zealand, the African Association in Mauritius, the Tel Aviv Art Deco Center, Art Deco Society of the Palm Beaches, and several condominium associations. He has served on the Board of Directors of MDPL since 2017 in various capacities and is the current Chair of the Board.