California Design, 1930–1965: "Living in a Modern Way" (The MIT Press)

In 1951, designer Greta Magnusson Grossman observed that California design was "not a superimposed style, but an answer to present conditions.... It has developed out of our own preferences for living in a modern way." California design influenced the material culture of the entire country, in everything from architecture to fashion. This generously illustrated book, which accompanies a major exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, is the first comprehensive examination of California's mid-century modern design. It begins by tracing the origins of a distinctively California modernism in the 1930s by such European émigrés as Richard Neutra, Rudolph Schindler, and Kem Weber; it finds other specific design influences and innovations in solid-color commercial ceramics, inspirations from Mexico and Asia, new schools for design training, new concepts about leisure, and the conversion of wartime technologies to peacetime use (exemplified by Charles and Ray Eames's plywood and fiberglass furniture). The heart of California Design is the modern California home, famously characterized by open plans conducive to outdoor living. The layouts of modernist homes by Pierre Koenig, Craig Ellwood, and Raphael Soriano, for example, were intended to blur the distinction between indoors and out. Homes were furnished with products from Heath Ceramics, Van Keppel-Green, and Architectural Pottery as well as other, previously unheralded companies and designers. Many objects were designed to be multifunctional: pool and patio furniture that was equally suitable indoors, lighting that was both task and ambient, bookshelves that served as room dividers, and bathing suits that would turn into ensembles appropriate for indoor entertainment. California Design includes 350 images, most in color, of furniture, ceramics, metalwork, architecture, graphic and industrial design, film, textiles, and fashion, and ten incisive essays that trace the rise of the California design aesthetic. "The first comprehensive examination of California's mid-century modern design, generously illustrated. In 1951, designer Greta Magnusson Grossman observed that California design was “not a superimposed style, but an answer to present conditions.... It has developed out of our own preferences for living in a modern way.” California design influenced the material culture of the entire country, in everything from architecture to fashion. This generously illustrated book, which accompanies a major exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, is the first comprehensive examination of California's mid-century modern design. It begins by tracing the origins of a distinctively California modernism in the 1930s by such European émigrés as Richard Neutra, Rudolph Schindler, and Kem Weber; it finds other specific design influences and innovations in solid-color commercial ceramics, inspirations from Mexico and Asia, new schools for design training, new concepts about leisure, and the conversion of wartime technologies to peacetime use (exemplified by Charles and Ray Eames's plywood and fiberglass furniture). The heart of California Design is the modern California home, famously characterized by open plans conducive to outdoor living. The layouts of modernist homes by Pierre Koenig, Craig Ellwood, and Raphael Soriano, for example, were intended to blur the distinction between indoors and out. Homes were furnished with products from Heath Ceramics, Van Keppel-Green, and Architectural Pottery as well as other, previously unheralded companies and designers. Many objects were designed to be multifunctional: pool and patio furniture that was equally suitable indoors, lighting that was both task and ambient, bookshelves that served as room dividers, and bathing suits that would turn into ensembles appropriate for indoor entertainment. California Design includes 350 images, most in color, of furniture, ceramics, metalwork, architecture, graphic and industrial design, film, textiles, and fashion, and ten incisive essays that trace the rise of the California design aesthetic."--Publisher Contents......Page 23 Foreword......Page 25 Corporate Sponsor’s Statement......Page 29 1 Introduction: “Living in a Modern Way” (Wendy Kaplan)......Page 31 2 The Rise of California Modern Design, 1930–41 (Christopher Long)......Page 65 3 Fusing Old and New: Émigré Designers in California (Bobbye Tigerman)......Page 95 4 Open World: California Architects and the Modern Home (Nicholas Olsberg)......Page 121 5 At Home with California Modern, 1945–65 (Pat Kirkham)......Page 151 6 War and Peace: Unexpected Dividends (Bill Stern)......Page 183 7 Serious Business: The “Designer-Craftsman” in Postwar California (Glenn Adamson)......Page 207 8 Distinctly Californian: Modernism in Textiles and Fashion (Melissa Leventon)......Page 237 9 Developing a Language of Vision: Graphic Design in California (Jeremy Aynsley)......Page 267 10 “It Has to Be Sold”: The Dissemination of California Design, 1945–65 (Wendy Kaplan and Staci Steinberger)......Page 293 Map of California, 1930–65......Page 324 Checklist of the Exhibition......Page 325 Acknowledgments......Page 351 Lenders to the Exhibition......Page 357 Illustration Credits......Page 358 Index......Page 360 Collects Photographs And Posters That Highlight The Californian Design From 1930 To 1965. Introduction: Living In A Modern Way / Wendy Kaplan -- The Rise Of California Modern Design, 1930-41 / Christopher Long -- Fusing Old And New: Emigré Designers In California / Bobbye Tigerman -- Open World: California Architects And The Modern Home / Nicholas Olsberg -- At Home With California Modern, 1945-65 / Pat Kirkham -- War And Peace: Unexpected Dividends / Bill Stern -- Serious Business: The Designer-craftsman In Postwar California / Glenn Adamson -- Distinctly Californian: Modernism In Textiles And Fashion / Melissa Leventon -- Developing A Language Of Vision: Graphic Design In California / Jeremy Aynsley -- It Has To Be Sold: The Dissemination Of California Design, 1945-65 / Wendy Kaplan And Staci Steinberger. Wendy Kaplan, Editor ; Wendy Kaplan And Bobbye Tigerman, Curators ; With Contributions By Glenn Adamson ... [et Al.]. Published On The Occasion Of An Exhibition On View At The Los Angeles County Museum Of Art, Oct. 1, 2011-mar. 25, 2012. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents 23 Foreword 25 Corporate Sponsor’s Statement 29 1 Introduction: “Living in a Modern Way” (Wendy Kaplan) 31 2 The Rise of California Modern Design, 1930–41 (Christopher Long) 65 3 Fusing Old and New: Émigré Designers in California (Bobbye Tigerman) 95 4 Open World: California Architects and the Modern Home (Nicholas Olsberg) 121 5 At Home with California Modern, 1945–65 (Pat Kirkham) 151 6 War and Peace: Unexpected Dividends (Bill Stern) 183 7 Serious Business: The “Designer-Craftsman” in Postwar California (Glenn Adamson) 207 8 Distinctly Californian: Modernism in Textiles and Fashion (Melissa Leventon) 237 9 Developing a Language of Vision: Graphic Design in California (Jeremy Aynsley) 267 10 “It Has to Be Sold”: The Dissemination of California Design, 1945–65 (Wendy Kaplan and Staci Steinberger) 293 Map of California, 1930–65 324 Checklist of the Exhibition 325 Acknowledgments 351 Lenders to the Exhibition 357 Illustration Credits 358 Index 360 9780262016070 MIT Press