The “Stephen Burks: Shelter in Place” design exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art takes its cues from the early pandemic shutdown, writes Peter Crimmins for WHYY.

Among the first item that welcomes visitors to the exhibit is a television. But this one does not simply hang on the wall. The item is “Woven TV,” a basketry stand that allows each person to interweave their own objects and create something that personalizes the TV for them.

Stephen Burks came up with the idea when he started spending more time at home during the pandemic. Having a TV on the wall among the photographs they had collected bothered him and his partner, Malika Leiper.

The aim was to come up with something that would “allow the television to be more of a two-way project, allow families to have a dialogue with what’s being transmitted,” said Burks.

The exhibition features Burks’ works from the past 10 years.

As part of his highly collaborative design practice, he often works with craft artisans around the world, especially weavers in the Philippines and Senegal.

The exhibit will be on view until April 14.

Read more about the “Shelter in Place” exhibition in WHYY.

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