Charles Eames turned his curiosity and enthusiasm into creations that established a whole new look in design. He achieved his monumental success by responding to the questions: Does it interest and intrigue? Can be made better? Will I have “serious fun” doing it? “The details are not details,” said Charles. “They make the product.” Lean and modern. Playful and suited to the space. Clean and beautifully simple. That was and is the ʻEames lookʼ which the “Dreams of Eames” exhibition pays tribute.
Elroy Artspace in Portland, Oregon is holding a group show tribute to the Eames’ work which promises to be a great exhibit (one of my favourite lushpad regulars is CZM who will be part of the show). The show opens April 1st. If you’re in Portland, then you should be there – and send me photos. Please.
Seeing as the next few weeks are going to be devoted to all things Ray & Charles Eames, I’ve gathered together a collection of videos. The Powers of Ten is their most famous film work, and definitely worth watching if you haven’t seen it before.
Sarah Morehouse, Art Director at Mirror Show and resident of Rochester, New York has been collecting mid-century modern furniture for about 6 years now. Her favourite piece is the Heywood-Wakefield dining room set she found for a steal. A little bit of tender loving care has made it the shining jewel of her collection.
I found this beautiful little linocut chair series by Eric Rewitzer over at the 3 Fish Studios site. Each 6″ x 8″ print comes in a signed and numbered limited edition of 100. The best part is they’re only $25 each. There are more to be seen on the 3 Fish Studio site and the whole set can be purchased for $200. That’s not bad for a design lover on a budget!
Ray & Charles Eames designed the Fibreglass Shell Chair in 1948 and was the first industrially manufactured chair of its kind. Initially manufactured by Zenith Plastics using the latest tooling technologies and materials developed during WWII, these iconic chairs have maintained their popularity in the decades since they were first produced. These were the first one-piece plastic chairs offered without upholstery or other covering, keeping with the Eameses mandate of showcasing honest materials. The original chairs were made of fiberglass-infused plastic and these vintage items can be from time to time be found for sale on lushpad, but licensed modern versions of the chair which can be purchased from Unica Home are now made in recyclable polypropylene which is more environmentally-friendly.
I can’t believe I only just found this stop motion film by Eames Demetrios. The plywood elephants were designed in 1945 but only recently have they been put into production by Vitra. I love the fact the elephants passed by my place on their way to the Eames Studio in Venice. There’s also a sneak peak at the Eames house, as well as the fabulous view they had from their woods. The making of the film was documented for the DASFilmFest.
You can buy these cute little critters at Unica Home.
Robert Chaplin, a Vancouver-based artist, gemstone carver, poet, and publisher, has recently opened up shop on Etsy so the world (not just Vancouver) can buy his delightful books for children and adults alike. The 32-page hardcover books contain everything from learning to count, to cooking the perfect pot of delicious chicken soup. The writing is devilishly witty and the ink drawings are exquisite. They truly make the perfect gift for anyone.
Head over to Robert’s shop, Library Editions and pick up a copy or three. You definitely won’t regret it.
Mon Oncle is Jacques Tati’s 1958 comedy about Monsieur Hulot, a socially awkward yet lovable character and his quixotic struggle with postwar France’s infatuation with modern architecture, mechanical efficiency and American-style consumerism. The dialogue in this movie takes a back-seat to the lively musical score and visuals.
At its debut, Mon Oncle was denounced by some critics for what they viewed as a reactionary view of an emerging French consumer society, which had lately embraced a new wave of industrial modernization and a more rigid social structure.
Every now and then we come across some really great books on mid-century modern furniture, architecture and contemporary design. Here are some of our favourites. Full list here.
The Story of Eames Furniture
This book blows wide open the myth of Charles Eames and the Eames Office. As one reviewer puts it, “It seems Saarinen, Bertoia, Ain and Albinson designed, refined and were given little if no credit for the entire line of furniture of the Eames’, whereas Charles Eames had his focus on women, photography (lots of [...]
Chic Green Interior Design
I’ve been fortunate enough to get a sneak peek at Lori Dennis’s upcoming book, Green Interior Design. It’s a wealth of information about environmentally friendly materials and building practices. For the lost soul who is navigating this new trend, this easy to use book is truly worth every penny.
Lori explains every aspect of residential interior [...]
5 Must-Have Mid-Century Modern Books
I’m always being asked which books to buy on mid-century modernism, so I’ve compiled a list of my current top 5 books under $50. Lushpad has a larger list of books over at Amazon if you want to have a look for some more great mid-mod books.
If you’ve got any suggestions to add to the [...]
Library Editions by Robert Chaplin
Robert Chaplin, a Vancouver-based artist, gemstone carver, poet, and publisher, has recently opened up shop on Etsy so the world (not just Vancouver) can buy his delightful books for children and adults alike. The 32-page hardcover books contain everything from learning to count, to cooking the perfect pot of delicious chicken soup. The [...]
Mid-Century Modern Cool – Kevin Dart
“A Kiss from Tokyo” is a beautiful animation created for Kevin Dart’s newly released book about Yuki 7 entitled, “Seductive Espionage, the world of Yuki 7″ which chronicles the production of this imaginary 1960’s spy film franchise. The world they have created is beautiful and definitely inspired by two of my favourite shows growing up, “The Avengers” and “James Bond”. You can purchase the book via Fleet Street Scandal.
