simon-bruntell

The Art of Diplomacy

At Sunnylands, the world’s only full set of Steuben
crystal created by Asian artists celebrates 60 years.

Lisa Marie Hart Arts & Entertainment

simon-bruntell
Simon Bruntell
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNENBERG TRUST AT SUNNYLANDS

An international tale of art and artisans, politics and diplomacy, and cross-cultural notions of beauty takes shape in Asian Artists in Crystal: Steuben Glass at Sunnylands, a stunning exhibition continuing through May at Sunnylands Center and Gardens in Rancho Mirage.

The works trace to a State Department initiative under President Eisenhower to improve relations, and even curb Communism, whereby Steuben produced 36 pieces of American crystal engraved with drawings by artists from 16 Asian nations. After touring as an exhibition in the mid-1950s to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and Asian institutions, the artful diplomacy achieved a measure of success.

In 1971, Walter and Leonore Annenberg acquired the only known complete set in the world. “They were wildly interested in these 36 pieces for a variety of reasons given their background and place in society and culture,” says Anne Rowe, director of collections and exhibitions at Sunnylands. “As diplomats and ambassadors, they worked with President Nixon throughout his efforts to improve relations with China. This collection and its diplomatic roots were not of trivial interest. It rang all their bells.” They also exercised the utmost care in selecting art and objects that surrounded them and their esteemed guests.

The exhibition includes a 17-minute documentary film and a catalog featuring scholarly essays, a historical timeline, images of the original drawings, and vintage black-and-white photographs of the crystal by famed photographer Erich Hartmann.

The relevance of the exhibition endures at this international retreat, William 
Warmus attests in his catalog essay. He writes, “President Xi Jinping of China saw this series when he met with President Barack Obama at Sunnylands in June 2013, yet another example of how the Annenberg tradition of cultural diplomacy remains as important today as it was when this collection was created 60 years ago.”

Sunnylands, 37977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, 760-202-2222; www.sunnylands.org