October4design Celebration Kicks Off This Weekend

The October4design celebration in New Canaan promises to be worth the wait.

The month-long celebration that kicks off this weekend will recognize the community’s rich architectural history and its affection for art and design with a full schedule of events that will continue through October 29th.

October4design, which is organized by the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society, will feature challenges and projects for children; lectures by masters in the fields of architecture and design; a community concert; and a stroll that will take guests through some of the town’s finest art galleries.

October4design was set to debut in 2020, but many of the events were either scaled back or canceled because of COVID-19 health restrictions. So, this year’s event has been more than two years in the making.

Other notable events will include a reception and tour of the Noyes home on October 5th, a lunch with legendary ceramicist Frances Palmer on October 7th; the Modern House Day Tour and Symposium on October 23rd; and an exclusive hard hat tour of the new boutique hotel, The Marcel, in New Haven on October 24th.

An exhibition of solar lighting and sustainable design titled “bio philia” by Nina Anker of nea studios in Brooklyn has already opened at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society’s Bishop Gallery. The exhibit can be viewed through October 31st. Anker is renowned for her biophilic designs that highlight nature and sustainability.

These events get started on Friday and continue through the end of October:

• Builders Challenge: Children are invited to create a structure using Legos or Mega Bloks bricks and then display their creation in the window of a New Canaan store. Inspiration can come from a local landmark, a favorite shop, or a neighbor’s home. Base plates (one per family) can be picked up at the museum. This event is free and sponsored by the Rotary Club of New Canaan.

• Gores Pavilion/Walter Stewart’s Coloring Project: Unleash your inner artist! Stop by Walter Stewart’s Market and pick up an image of the market or the Gores Pavilion in Irwin Park. You can also click here to download and print a coloring sheet. Return your completed masterpiece to Walter Stewart’s where it will be displayed in the market’s Elm Street window. The winner will be selected at the end of the month. This event is free.

Events scheduled for Friday, October 1st

• Gores Family Program / Growing Up Modern: A panel discussion with Ainslie Gores Gilligan, Gabe Gilligan, and Mark Markiewicz will be followed by a question-and-answer session on the legacy of Landis Gores, his family life, and his architectural accomplishments. The 2-hour session will begin at 7 p.m. and be moderated by Gwen North Reiss. Among Gores’ notable projects in the area include the Gores House, the Irwin Pool House, the House for All Seasons, and Strathmoor Village.

Events scheduled for Saturday, October 2nd

• Keeping It Modern / A Talk With Bob Gregson: Artist Bob Gregson, whose works have been displayed in New York, Chicago, and Washington D.C., and featured in collections at the New Britain Museum and the Housatonic Museum of Art, will explore the idea of modern and what it has meant in the 20th Century from high style to pop culture. Gregson’s 1-hour talk is free and will begin at 3 p.m.

• Reception at Noyes II: Beginning at 4:30, explore the home of the renowned architect and industrial designer Eliot Noyes, who is best known for his emphasis on functional Modernism and his beliefs in the simplicity of form and truth to the nature of his materials. Noyes’ son and architect, Fred Noyes, will open his home for cocktails and conversation. Tickets are required. Price is $35. Purchase tickets here. The address of the Noyes home will be sent after a ticket is purchased.