You Are What You Eat With Designer Zeisel Makes Minimal, Elegant Dinnerware That Is Also Fun by Michael Coleman The term ìmodern designî conjures certain stereotypes: ìinspired,î sure, but just as frequently ìaloofî and sometimes even ìcold.î Eva Zeisel, the Hungarian-born designer who narrowly escaped death in Stalin-era Russia before landing in the United States and achieving fame decades ago, defies stereotypes. Her art is certainly inspired, but itís also as warm and inviting as a fresh-brewed cup of tea. ìEva Zeisel: The Playful Search for Beauty,î an elegant new exhibition at the Hillwood Museum and Gardens, conveys Zeiselís talent for making beautiful, modern dinnerware that is also functional and just plain fun. Zeiselís sculpturesóprimarily dinnerware in this exhibitionóabound with rounded curves, arches, teardrops and wave motifs. The designs are minimal and efficient, with an enduring sense of style. Itís easy to envision a young, hip couple gathering friends for dinner at their U Street loft and proudly serving sushi on Zeiselís Tomorrowís Classic lineóthe first modern porcelain dinnerware introduced in the United States in 1948. At the same time, a family of four nestled in a comfortable home somewhere in the Virginia suburbs could happily share a casserole placed in one of Zeiselís serving pieces produced by Western Stoneware, another classic line that replicated a family of ducks. ìThey are supposed to evoke warm family feelings,î Karen Kettering, the exhibitionís curator, said of the Western Stoneware line. ìYou are supposed to feel these pieces mimic family relationships. There is also considerable attention paid to Zeiselís early work in Russia. The 1930s era in Russia was a period of ìrationalized design,î meaning that the shapes of cups and pots aimed to be hygienic, or easy to clean. The designs also needed to be inexpensive to produce and easy to shipónot too heavy so as to save on shipping costs, but not so thin that they would break during transit. Zeisel was one of the few designers who had the training to meet these demands. She also managed to create dishes that conformed to the traditional aesthetic of Russian pottery while updating its look. Born Eva Amalia Stricker in 1906, the artist took an early interest in painting. She found a nurturing and supportive influence in her mother, who sought out members of the Hungarian avant-garde who had studied in Munich and Paris to tutor her. Zeisel enrolled in the Budapest Academy of Arts before her 18th birthday, but abandoned it after 18 months to train as a potter. She never looked back and forged a legendary career that took her from obscurity to fame to legend. And at 98, Zeisel remains a designer in demand. She recently reached what was surely a lucrative agreement with retail giant Crate & Barrel to replicate and sell Classic Century dinnerware, inspired by Zeiselís Tomorrowís Classic line. Although the focus of the Hillwood exhibition is primarily on Zeiselís art, there also is some attention paid to her extraordinary personal story. ìOur great trick was to emphasize the balance between her incredible life and her work,î Kettering explained. After leaving the Budapest Academy of Arts and training for some time as a potter, she took a job with the German ceramics manufacturer Schramberger Majolika Fabrik in 1928. Her work was severely and abruptly interrupted in 1936 when she was arrested in the Soviet Union for allegedly conspiring to assassinate Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. According to press accounts, Zeisel was falsely accused by a former colleague who wilted under interrogation. Nearly a dozen other artists were rounded up by the Soviets as well. Many were executed, but Zeisel, who refused to sign a false confession, was eventually freed thanks in part to the efforts of her mother, who worked tirelessly to secure signatures on a petition proclaiming her innocence. She spent much of her 16 months in prison in solitary confinement. Incidentally, the young Zeisel looked glamorous even in her prison mug shots. After her release in 1937, Zeisel fledóìjust steps ahead of the Nazis,î according to exhibition press materialsóto Vienna and England, and ultimately to the United States. A true survivor, Zeisel seemed immensely flattered by the attention showered on her at a recent Hillwood press preview. After listening to people sing her praises, the proud artist approached the microphone and expressed her gratitude. ìI feel very much more important than I did an hour ago,î she said, eliciting affectionate laughs from an admiring crowd. The Zeisel exhibition is presented under the patronage of Hungarian Ambassador Andr·s Simonyi and his wife. ìThe Playful Search for Beautyî is the third installation in the museumís temporary exhibition series and the first survey of Zeiselís work in 20 years. ìEva Zeisel: The Playful Search for Beautyî runs through Dec. 4 at the Hillwood Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Ave., NW. For more information, please call (202) 686-8500 or visit www.hillwoodmuseum.org. Michael Coleman is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.