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October2011isoneoffiveexhibitionsLACMAispresentinginconjunctionwithanunprecedentedcollaborationinitiatedbytheGettybringingtogethermorethansixtyculturalinstitutionsacrossSouthernCaliforniatotellthestoryofthebirthoftheLosAngelesartscene.ThroughoutmostofthetwentiethcenturythestatesymbolizedthegoodlifeinAmerica.After1945aburgeoningnewlyprosperouspopulationturnedthestateintoAmericasmostimportantcenterforprogressivearchitectureandfurnishings.ThisexhibitionexploreshowtheCaliforniaofourcollectiveimaginationademocraticutopiawhereabenignclimatepermittedlifetobeledinformallyandlargelyoutdoorswastranslatedintoamaterialculturethatdefinedanera.ToillustratehowCaliforniaprovidedtheidealenvironmentformodernismtoflourishinawayparticulartothestatetheexhibitionisdividedintofoursectionsShapingMakingLivingandSelling.AsmigrGretaMagnussonGrossmandeclaredin1951CaliforniadesignisnotasuperimposedstylebutananswertopresentconditionsIthasdevelopedoutofourownpreferenceforlivinginamodernway.TheexhibitionexaminestheroleofnativedesignersandtransplantsfromotherpartsofthecountryaswellasthecontributionsofEuropeanmigrssuchasKemWeberR.M.SchindlerRichardNeutra.BytheonsetofWorldWarIItheseinnovatorsdesignsforhomesandfurnishingswerecharacterizedbyaparticularkindofmodernismonerootedinCaliforniacultureandconditions.ThosespecifictodesignincludinganaffinityforlightandbrilliantcoloropennesstoAsianandLatininfluencesandanadvocacyoffluidspacesandcross-disciplinaryapproachesmadeCaliforniasbestproductsdistinctive.After1945theUnitedStatesbecametheworldsstrongestindustrialmilitaryandculturalpower.CaliforniaplayedakeyroleinthisdevelopmenthavingdominateddefenseandaerospaceproductionduringWorldWarII.Californiasmaterialculturewasshapedbytheimperativetoapplyinnovativewartimematerialsandproductionmethodstopeacetimeuse.Californiaartistsworkingintraditionalcraftmediaalsorespondedtothespiritofmodernismandexperimentation.Thesedesigner-craftsmenastheybecameknowntriedtoadaptnewmethodsofproductiontomaketheirworkmoreaccessibletothenewmiddleclasses.Whetherhandmadeorindustriallyproducedthegoalwastoprovidewell-designedhomesandfurnishingsforthemillionsofnewcomerstoCaliforniawhocravedthem.TheheartoftheexhibitionfocusesonthemodernCaliforniahomefamouslycharacterizedbyopenplansandfurnishedwithproductsfromcompaniessuchasVanKeppel-GreenandArchitecturalPottery.ThedistinctivevocabularyoftheCaliforniahouseanditsfurnishingsatmid-centuryemergedfromaresponsetothebenevolentclimatewhichpermittedindooroutdoorliving.Coupledwithnewconstructiontechniquesanddomesticapplicationsformaterialssuchassteelthisallowedspacetobemademorepermeablebycompletelyfreeingthewall.featuresanextraordinarydemonstrationoflivinginamodernwaywithauniquere-creationofthelivingroomfromCharlesandRayEamesCaseStudyHouse8partofmagazinesgroundbreakingpost-warprogramtobuildhigh-qualityaffordablemass-produciblehomes.Theinstallationofthesefurnishingsoffersanunprecedentedlookatthericheclecticinteriorinwhichtheselegendarydesignerslived.JuliusShulmandeclaredGooddesignisseldomaccepted.Ithastobesold.HewasreferringtohisownroleinstagingarchitecturalphotographybutasthissectiondemonstratesthestatementcouldbeequallyappliedtoexhibitionsstoresadvertisingpublicationsandfilmwhichweretheprincipalagentsindisseminatingmodernCaliforniadesign.WhatMakestheCaliforniaLookwasaquestionsopressingitwasthecoverstoryoftheLosAngelesTimesHomemagazineinOctober1951.ManyoftheobjectsphotographedforthecoveranEamesfiberglasschairanArchitecturalPotteryplanteraVanKeppel-GreenloungechairhavebecomeemblemsofCaliforniadesignendlesslyseeninphotographsoftheperiod.TheworksfromtheLATimescoverornearlyidenticalexampleshavebeenlocatedandreassembledtorecreatetheoriginalphotoshootfortheexhibition.Bytheendofthe1960stherelentlessoptimismthathadmadeCaliforniatheembodimentofthegoodlifebecamefarmoresubdued.Countercultureprotestsandecologicalandsocialjusticeissueschallengedtheveryideaofconsumerismandunbridledgrowth.TheseshiftingbeliefshoweverdonotdiminishtheunprecedentedandlastingcontributionsofCaliforniadesignatmid-century.ThisexhibitiontellsastoryoftheexhilaratinginnovationandoptimismaboutbuildingabettermodernworldthatmadeCalifornialoomlargeinAmericasandindeedtheworldsimagination.CharlesEames1907-1978activeVeniceRayEames1912-1988activeVenice.HermanMillerFurnitureCompany.Zinc-platedsteelbirch-facedandplastic-coatedplywoodlacqueredparticleboardrubber69x47x16in.175.3x119.4x40.6cm.LACMAGiftofMr.SidAveryandMr.JamesCorcoran2011EamesOfficeLLCeamesoffice.comHermanMillerInc.Photo2011MuseumAssociatesLACMARichardNeutra.PhotobyJuliusShulman1947J.PaulGettyTrust.Usedwithpermission.JuliusShulmanPhotographyArchiveResearchLibraryattheGettyResearchInstitute2004.R.10CharlesEames1907-1978activeVeniceRayEames1912-1988activeVeniceMoldedPlywoodDivisionEvansProductsCompanyVenice1943-47.Rosewoodrubbersteel.29x1912x22in.73.7x49.5x55.9cmLACMADecorativeArtsandDesignCouncilFund2011TheEamesFoundationCourtesyEamesOfficeLLCeamesoffice.comPhoto2011MuseumAssociatesLACMAOctober12011-March252012CaliforniaDesign1930-1965LivinginaModernWayESUEamesstorageunitc.1949KaufmanHousePalmSprings1946DCWdiningchairwood1946-49PacificStandardTimeShapingMakingLivingSellingPacificStandardTimeCaliforniaDesign18CULTURECaliforniaDesign1930-1965LivinginaModernWayCaliforniaDesignArtsandArchitectureLACMALosAngelesCountyMuseumofArt5905WilshireBlvd.LosAngelesCA90036323.857.6000lacma.orgMon-TueThu1200-800pmFri1200-900pmSat-Sun1100am-800pmClosedWednesdaysAdmissionis15foradults10forseniors10forstudentsandfreeforchildrenunder17TheLosAngelesCountyMuseumofArtLACMApresentsonviewOctober12011March252012.TheexhibitionthefirstmajorstudyofmodernCaliforniadesignexaminesthestateskeyroleinshapingthematerialcultureofthecountryatmid-century.featuresmorethan350objectsinwide-rangingmediaincludingfurnituretextilesfashiongraphicandindustrialdesignceramicsjewelrymetalworkarchitecturaldrawingsandfilmaswellastwoperiodre-creationsmostnotablythelivingroomfromthehomeofrenowneddesignersCharlesandRayEames.PacificStandardTimeCaliforniaDesign1930-1965LivinginaModernWayFormoreinformationabouttheunprecendentedcollaborationofculturalinstitutionsacrossSouthernCaliforniatocelebratethebirthoftheL.A.artscenevisitpacificstandardtime.orgfeaturesanextraordinarydemonstrationoflivinginamodernwaywithauniquere-creationofthelivingroomfromCharlesandRayEamesCaseStudyHouse8.CaliforniaDesign1930-1965LivinginaModernWayCaliforniaDesignPacificStandardTime