Blowing Rock, N.C. (Nov. 21, 2024) — A new exhibition entitled Dail Dixon: Modern at Scale will open at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) on November 23, 2024 and will be on view in the Museum’s Shaeffer Gallery through May 11, 2025.

Dail Dixon, FAIA, is an architect, craftsman, and modernist at heart. This installation, featuring objects from his woodworking studio, explores how this celebrated North Carolinian architect, known for his innovative design, translates modernist principles into playful, functional artworks. Dixon’s birdhouses—originally developed to benefit the Penland School of Craft—are more than whimsical objects; they reflect a refined mastery of proportion, material, and form. Drawing inspiration from the iconic Case Study Houses and a family history of birdhouse design, Dixon’s work bridges architecture, craft, modernity and tradition.

This exhibition also includes Dixon’s chair designs, lovingly crafted annually for his late sister, and his speculative patent models that blend humor with inventive problem-solving. Together, these pieces highlight Dixon’s enduring commitment to creating objects that are as thoughtful as they are delightful, embodying his belief in design’s power to enhance our everyday lives. “Dail’s creative output is remarkably diverse,” says BRAHM Curator of Exhibitions & Collections, Ian Gabriel Wilson. “His perspective on the world is endlessly inquisitive, and the objects he designs and fabricates are fundamentally optimistic—they solve problems and address gaps in our built environment. I think this exhibition of smaller works brings some of the more ineffable qualities of his architectural practice into familiar, accessible forms.”

Modern at Scale offers a glimpse into Dixon's creative practice. While many of the structures he has designed throughout his architectural career often remain unseen—private residences that are not accessible to the general public—the sculptural and speculative objects seen here provide viewers an opportunity to appreciate the breadth of his design thinking and the fluid boundaries between art, architecture, and craft.

About BRAHM:

BRAHM’s mission is to curate, preserve, educate, and inspire. Rooted in the creative cultures of Appalachia, BRAHM aims to cultivate a community that extends beyond its walls and region, positioning Western North Carolina as a leader in the arts. The 25,000-square-foot Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, known as BRAHM, opened its doors on October 1, 2011. Located off Main Street in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, BRAHM provides cultural enrichment by promoting the arts and history through educational programs, exhibitions, and activities. The permanent collection of more than 600 objects includes works by Elliott Daingerfield, Maud Gatewood, Elizabeth Bradford, Mark Hewitt, and other American impressionist and post-impressionist artists. Open year-round, BRAHM welcomes 24,000 visitors free of charge to experience 25 changing exhibitions. BRAHM also has an outreach education program that encourages arts education in local schools, daycares, and senior centers. For more information, visit go to our current exhibitions page.

Exhibitions at BRAHM