RAY EAMES: A CENTURY OF MODERN DESIGN AT CALIFORNIA MUSEUM
February 23, 2013 - February 23, 2014
RAY EAMES: A CENTURY OF MODERN DESIGN AT CALIFORNIA
MUSEUM
February 23, 2013 - February 23, 2014
Celebrating the centennial of legendary designer Ray
Eames, this all-new exhibition is the first to explore the early life and work
of the Sacramento native who broke barriers during an era of limited
opportunities for women in the arts. Although the work of Eames Office is
well-known for innovations in modern architecture, furniture, films, toys,
photography, textiles, exhibition design and more, Ray Eames often remains
often overlooked or mistaken for the brother of her husband and business
partner, Charles, in history.
Co-created in partnership with Eames
Office, the exhibit features new information on Ray’s early life in
Sacramento and work produced prior to meeting Charles in 1941, as based upon
research conducted by Carla Hartman, Education Director of Eames Office, which
played a central role in the project's development. In addition, the exhibit also
chronicles well-known Eames Office projects produced by Ray and Charles from
1941-1988, providing new insight on Ray's ground-breaking role as the equal
partner of Charles.
Including over 100 original works and rarely-seen
artifacts from Eames Office and the Eames family's collections, the exhibit
provides a new perspective on Ray’s 60-year career in the arts, along with her
significance in history as one of the 20th century’s most influential - yet
largely unknown – artists, whose influence continues to shape design today.
ENTRY TO
EXHIBIT FROM CALIFORNIA MUSEUM
DESIGN 1941 –
1988 FROM CALIFORNIA MUSEUM
RARE PAINTINGS BY RAY EAMES FROM THE 1930
FROM CALIFORNIA MUSEUM
LA CHAISE 1948
A
PLYWOOD GROUP
1945 – 1946
CALIFORNIA
ARTS & ARCHITECTURE APRIL 1943 BY RAY EAMES
CHAIRS FOR THE
HOME OFFICE 1959
THE QUALITY OF
EAMES CHAIR 1961
VINTAGE ADS & CATALOGS BY HERMAN MILLER
RAY EAMES 1942
STORAGE UNIT BROCHURE
A
A
LOUNGE CHAIR
1956
PLASTIC
ARMCHAIRS 1950
PANEL OF RAY
EAMES’S FINE ART
FROM
EXHIBITION AT CALIFORNIA MUSEUM
100 ORGINAL
WORKS FROM PERSONAL COLLECTION
LA REPUBLICA’S
R CASA & DESIGN FEATURE 2013
CHARLES &
RAY EAMES OFFICE
CHARLES & RAY
EAMES
1907 - 1978 &
1912 - 1988
•Ray Eames was born and raised in Sacramento, CA; both Charles and
Ray lived and worked in Los Angeles, CA from 1941
Achievements:
Among the most important American designers of the 20th century,
Charles and Ray Eames made groundbreaking contributions to architecture,
furniture design, industrial design and manufacturing, toys and the
photographic arts.
Artist Bernice “Ray” Kaiser and architect Charles Eames merged
their lives and careers in 1941. Using new materials in innovative ways, they
produced influential and enduring designs. During WWII they designed and
successfully proposed to the Navy the production of molded plywood splints and
stretchers to better serve the wounded. After the war, they returned to
their design of furniture; the resulting molded plywood chair was called “the
design of the century” by Time Magazine in their Millennium Issue. In the
1950s, the Eameses continued their work in architecture and modern furniture
design, and pioneered innovative technologies, such as the plastic resin and
wire mesh chairs designed for Herman Miller.
Their groundbreaking Eames House is a milestone of modern
architecture and National Historic Landmark. Their film Powers of Ten is
on the National Film Register — and continues to be used in schools. Their
exhibit Mathematica is still considered a model for science exhibits and has
been on continuous display for over 50 years. Most of their furniture designs
remain in production today.
Selected Awards/Recognition:
• U.S. Postal Service stamps
• Royal Institute of British Architects Royal Gold Medal
http://www.californiamuseum.org/inductee/charles-and-ray-eames
