You may not know Eva Zeisel yet, but you know her work.
'Throwing Curves', the new
documentary by filmmaker Jyll Johnstone and Canobie Films,
explores the life and art of a brave & willful woman who
conquered the 20th century with curvilinear style to become
one of the most famous industrial designers of the modern
era. Working primarily in porcelain and ceramic table-ware,
Eva Zeisel's pioneering work introduced her trademark sensuous
curves to mass-production. With over 60-plus years in the
field Ms. Zeisel is one of the best-selling tableware designers
of all time and her highly-collectable designs have literally
changed the face of modern design in the 20th century.
'Throwing Curves' explores
Eva Zeisel's 95-year life-journey, from her birth in Hungary
in 1906 through her career working in all the hotspots of
design, including Berlin in the 20s, the Soviet Union in the
30s, and New York in the 50s. The film interweaves her design
work with her dramatic life-history, which includes being
imprisoned in a Soviet prison, escaping the Nazis and setting
up a new life as an immigrant in post-war New York City. Finally,
in a testimony to one of America's earliest "super moms",
the film explores the tension between modern motherhood and
a career in the arts. "Throwing Curves - Eva
Zeisel" is a lesson in longevity and perseverance.
At age 95, Eva Zeisel is still creating, and the film finishes
with a look at her latest work in the new millennia.
"Throwing Curves - Eva Zeisel"
is the first of a documentary film series that explores the
lives of three 85-plus women still actively engaged in creative
lives.