Live MAGAZINE VOL 8, Issue #210 June 2nd THRU June 16th, 2015

MODERNISM
10
WEEK ANNOUNCES RETAIL LOCATIONS FOR “THE DESERT MODERNISTS – THE ARCHITECTS
MODERNISM WEEK ANNOUNCES RETAIL LOCATIONS FOR “THE DESERT MODERNISTS – THE ARCHITECTS
WHO ENVISIONED MIDCENTURY MODERN PALM SPRINGS”
Popular New Book Features Twelve Notable Desert Modern Architects, Stunning
Photography
PALM SPRINGS, CA – May 27, 2015: Modernism Week announces that a new
book created in celebration of its tenth anniversary, “The Desert Modernists –
The Architects Who Envisioned Midcentury Modern Palm Springs,” is available
for purchase online and at select retail locations.
“The Desert Modernists” highlights the work of 12 notable Desert Modern
architects and features stunning photography of their most influential projects.
The definitive book about the masterminds who shaped Palm Springs’ iconic
midcentury modern design is the result of a unique collaboration between 13
esteemed authors, 17 architectural photographers, architecture and design
community supporters, and Palm Springs Life magazine.
Included in the 143-page volume are chapters about each of the dozen architects
written by published authorities on each of the subjects. The examination of each
designer informs the overall picture of mid-twentieth century development in
Palm Springs. Included in the book is internationally acclaimed architect Richard
Neutra and the famed “Desert House” designed for Pittsburgh department
store magnate Edgar Kaufmann, Jr. in 1946 as an ethereal construction of glass,
steel, and stone. Also included is the highly experimental and prolific designer
and architect Albert Frey, who was an apprentice of the Swiss architect and
Modernism pioneer Le Corbusier. Frey’s futuristic, metal-clad Aluminaire House
(designed with A. Lawrence Kocher) was the toast of a 1931 New York exposition,
and remains today as one of the earliest and best examples of pre-fabricated
housing. Second generation Palm Springs architect E. Stewart Williams, who
designed Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms estate in 1947 is also studied; as well as the
architectural brilliance behind Palm Springs International Airport’s main terminal
building, Donald Wexler, and Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architect Hugh Kaptur,
both of whom continue to reside in Palm Springs. The seven additional architects
featured are Robson C. Chambers, John Porter Clark, William F. Cody, A. Quincy
Jones, William “Bill” Krisel, John Lautner, and Paul R. Williams.
An additional distinction of “The Desert Modernists” book is the remarkable
collection of photography displayed within its pages, including many vintage and
contemporary photos from private archives and images never-before seen in
public. The iconic photographer Julius Shulman figures prominently with photos
provided by the courtesy of his family and the Getty archives. Palm Springs has
long been recognized as one of the most spectacular and geographically unique
locations for architectural photography. The 17 professional photographers
featured have beautifully captured the dramatic and graceful starkness of
modern architecture positioned amidst the arid and sparse desert landscape.
“This undertaking was a history-making collaboration and a labor of
love. The result is a tribute to an amazing group of midcentury modern
architects who had a distinct vision for Palm Springs’ future,” said J. Chris
Mobley, Modernism Week Board Chairman. “Our non-profit mission
includes educating and informing the public about the significance of the
rich architectural heritage of Palm Springs. Proceeds from the sale of ‘The
Desert Modernists’ will provide financial support for Modernism Week, its
mission and year-round operations.”
The retail price for “The Desert Modernists – The Architects Who
Envisioned Midcentury Modern Palm Springs” is $50, and the book may be
purchased at the following locations:
Destination PSP – 170 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs and online at
DestinationPSP.com
Just Fabulous – 515 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Just Modern – 901 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center – 300 S. Palm
Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Sunnylands Center and Gardens – 37977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage,
CA
Fallingwater Museum Store – 1491 Mill Run Road, Mill Run, PA
“The architects who practiced in Palm Springs during the mid 20th century
brought attention to how architecture and landscape can be in sync,”
observed Sydney Williams, the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Curator of
Architecture and Design. “Each architect adapted their architecture to
the desert environment in unique ways and each chapter of ‘The Desert
Modernists’ reveals insights into their work.”
Modernism Week will host a Fall Preview over the Columbus Day holiday
weekend October 9-12, 2015, and the 11th annual Modernism Week
will take place February 11-21, 2016. For more information please visit
modernismweek.com and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About Modernism Week:
Modernism Week is a
California 501 (c) (3) non-profit
organization. Modernism Week
is also a charitable organization,
providing scholarships to local
Palm Springs students pursuing
college educations in the fields of
architecture and design; as well
as giving grants to local and state
preservation organizations for
their efforts to preserve modernist
architecture throughout the state
of California.
Modernism Week’s Mission:
The mission of Modernism
Week is to celebrate and foster
appreciation of mid-century
architecture and design, as well
as contemporary thinking in these
fields, by encouraging education,
preservation and sustainable
modern living as represented in
Palm Springs.