Information wheels—or volvelles—have been used since the 14th century to measure, record and calculate everything from verb conjugation to birth control biorhythms. From circular slide rules to Captain Marvel decoders, these unique artifacts are not only amusing but offer a model for modern interactive design.

From the golden age of celestial cartography to more contemporary applications of both language and form, Volvelles demonstrates both the astonishing range and remarkable utility of these ingenious “interactive” tools. The exhibition features more than 120 works, many of great historical importance.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EXHIBITION INCLUDE:

  • Examples of concrete poetry, including a limited edition “perpetual” poem, La Rose et Le Chien, by Tristan Tzara and Pablo Picasso.
  • Almanacs and calendars, including Johannes Mueller's Kalendarium (1476); the Jewish calendar Sefer Evronot, (1627); and Antonio Carrarino's Opera Astrologica, (1581), a perpetual calendar of planetary hours published one year before the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar.

THE GROLIER CLUB
Hours: 10 am – 5 pm
Monday – Saturday

DAVE EGGERS
Timothy McSweeney's
Windfall Republic