Exhibition Overview
AUBÖCK: The Gallet Collection
Exhibition Concept:
AUBÖCK: The Gallet Collection, is comprised of two exhibitions taking place simultaneously in two separate spaces at Touchstone Center for Crafts from May-July, 2024. The focal point of the exhibit taking place in the main gallery will be on the Valerie Auböck Gallet (1907-1997) collection of artwork and decorative art objects from the Werkstätte Carl Auböck. The Vienna, Austria workshop, founded in the late 19th century by Karl Heinrich Auböck as a metalworking studio, has over five generations produced a family of artists, architects, and designers. Valerie Auböck Gallet the youngest daughter of Karl Heinrich Auböck and sibling of Elizabeth "Lilly" Auböck Streit (1898-1977) and world-renowned artist Carl Auböck II (1900-1957) migrated to the US in 1939, eventually settling in Uniontown, PA where she and her husband, Louis Gallet would establish the Gallet Mills knitting factory. An exhibition of the Gallet family history including their many contributions to the region will take place in Touchstone's library area.
Exhibition: Auböck
Valerie Auböck Gallet (1907-1997), a trained milliner and successful businesswoman in the knitting mill industry during the mid to late 20th century was the daughter of Karl Heinrich Auböck, the founder of the Viennese workshop. Valerie’s siblings were graphic design pioneer and painter, Elisabeth “Lilly” Auböck Streit (1898-1977) and the world-renowned Carl Auböck II (1900-1957) who spent his early life as a student at the Bauhaus studying painting and metalworking. This Bauhaus experience would have a profound impact on Carl Auböck II and he would go on to create artwork, sculpture, and thousands of decorative art pieces and useful household objects recognized for their craftsmanship and enjoyed daily in homes throughout the world. Throughout her life, Valerie Auböck Gallet remained close to her family in Vienna, providing emotional and financial support post-WWII and after her brother Carl Auböck II’s untimely passing in 1957. As the last surviving sibling, Valerie would over the years inherit an important collection of Auböck family heirlooms. In 1953, Valerie and her husband, Louis Gallet commissioned Carl Auböck III, a recent architect graduate to design their home in Uniontown, PA. The home is recognized as Auböck III’s first realized architectural project, which marked the beginning of the Auböck legacy as architects now spanning three generations.
This portion of the exhibit will take place in Touchstone's main gallery space and will showcase works of art, architecture, design, and ephemera from five generations of the Auböck family.
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Exhibit: Gallet
This exhibit will focus on the Gallet family, primarily Valerie, Louis, and Roger. During the exploration of the Gallet family collection, it became apparent that sharing their family story would be essential to demonstrating the provenance of the Auböck family heirlooms and the importance of the Gallet family to the Auböck legacy. Very quickly, it was understood that the Gallet family history was one of significant importance to the local region from many aspects. In 1939, Louis Gallet a Jewish businessman in the knitting industry, and his wife, Valerie Auböck Gallet migrated to Fall River, Massachusetts, USA to escape anti-semitism in Europe. Louis Gallet was a member of the Altmann family, a prominent Jewish family who had established a textile empire throughout Europe. Louis’s first cousin Bernhard Altmann was the leader of the family enterprise. Berhard’s siblings included Max, Julius, Klara, and opera singer, Fredrich “Fritz” Altmann. Fritz Altmann is most recognized today for his role as the husband of Maria Altmann, the main character in the book and film titled, “Women in Gold” which documents the struggle of Altmann as she attempts to recover masterworks of art by Gustav Klimt stolen from her family during the Nazi occupation during the 1930s. Maria’s Aunt Adele Bloch-Bauer was the subject of the painting which would later be titled, “Women in Gold”. In 1940 after their well-documented, harrowing escape from Europe, Maria and Fritz joined Louis and Valerie for a brief time in Fall River, Massachusetts before they parted ways with Maria and Fritz settling in Los Angeles, CA, and Louis and Valerie making their way to the Quaker community of Penn Craft, PA and eventually settling in Uniontown, PA. In Penn Craft, Louis and Valerie found work in the Redstone knitting mill. They would go on to purchase the mill and after approximately 10 years of operation in Penn Craft they would move operations to a large factory in Uniontown funded by the Uniontown Industrial Fund. The Gallets became a major employer in the area rivaled only by Rockwell Meters. Gallet Mills became very successful over time, becoming well-known for their quality products. They produced garments for Jantzen, Catalina, and others in the 1950’s. In 1955, Louis Gallet suffered a fatal heart attack and passed leaving Valerie and their young son, Roger behind. In 1956 Valerie sold the knitting factory and the Carl Auböck III designed home and purchased another home nearby so that her young son could be closer to his friends. Just a few years later in a remarkable turn of events, Valerie re-acquired the knitting factory and continued to play an active role in the day-to-day operations until her passing in 1997. Under her leadership, Gallet Mills would produce high-quality garments for brands such as Ralph Lauren, Jos. A. Bank, Brooks Brothers, Izod, and many more.
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