Albert Frey Tribute, Dolphin Show & Sale Kick off 10-day celebration

Palm Springs Modernism Week 2010 is being kicked off by a Walk of Fame Star Dedication and Reception in honor of Architect Albert Frey at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 11th. Later that day, the Palm Springs Modernism Show will host its gala and preview from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; the show will continue throughout the weekend.Albert Frey, the Flamingo of Palm Springs Modernism, was born in Zurich, Switzerland and was influenced by the Dutch De Stijl movement, the German Bauhaus school and movement, and the modernism movement developing in Brussels.In 1928, Frey secured a position in the Paris atelier of the noted International Style architect Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. During his period of working for Le Corbusier, Frey worked on the Villa Savoye project and other significant projects. That same year, he left the atelier to take up work in the United States, but continued to maintain a friendship with Le Corbusier for many years.In September 1930, Frey returned to New York from another visit to France. Frey, the first architect in America to have worked directly with Le Corbusier, now began working with the American architect A. Lawrence Kocher. The pair worked on four collaborations through 1935, and reunited briefly in 1938. From 1935 to 1937 Frey worked with John Porter Clark, a Cornell-educated architect.Significant buildings by Frey during this period include his private residences, Frey house I and II, the Loewy House, built for industrial designer Raymond Loewy, the 1952 Palm Springs City Hall, the Cree House II, the now abandoned North Shore Yacht Club on the northeastern shore of the Salton Sea, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Valley Station and the iconic “flying wedge” canopy of the Tramway Gas Station at the foot of the entrance to the tramway on the northern edge of Palm Springs, now used as a visitor’s center.In addition to the architect tribute, there will be a home tour, a vintage fashion show, an architecture and design film series, an exhibition of vintage travel trailers, a slide show of retro Americana by Charles Phoenix, and a silent auction during the Modernism Show.This is the official kick-off of the Modernism season which culminates in December with the Art Deco to Modernism Show in San Francisco.The Palm Springs Modernism Show will feature 75 dealers from featuring items from every design movement of the 20th century from early 1900s to 1970s.The showstopper at last year’s Palm Springs Modernism Show was a giant bug-eyed jungle gym in the space of Neptina’s Lianne Gold.The weekend show hours are Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Palm Springs Convention Center is located at 277 N. Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Show admission is $15 per person for Saturday and Sunday; good for return entry all weekend.For more information, call Dolphin Promotions at (708) 366-2710.

Dennis Boses celebrates another year

Dennise Boses, who is preparing for the Art Deco to Modernism Show in San Francisco, took some time out to celebrate his birthday on October 16th.Everyone is a twitter about what showstopper he will bring this year. Some past showstoppers include replicas of the Titanic and the Golden Gate Bridge; a WPA mural by Millard Sheets; and most recently, a table used in the original Star Trek television series.

Several Los Angeles area dealers head north for 20th century show

There are still opportunities to be a $5,000 platinum sponsor at Dolphin Productions’ 20th Century Modernism Show & Sale which will be held September 24th-27th in San Francisco.Located in the Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center, general admission is $15, but the full shebang for a party of 6 can be had for $5,000. As a platinum sponsor, you get six tickets to the preview gala and admission to the show at 6:00 p.m. Gold circle sponsors, $2,500, get four tickets to the preview gala and entry at 6:30 p.m. Silver circle sponsors who pay $1,000 get to gala tickets and admission at 6:30 p.m. Supporters must pay $150 per ticket (or $200 per couple) and are also admitted at 6:30 p.m.Preview gala guests will enjoy the decorative stylings of Stanlee Gatti, culinary creations and a martini bar sponsored by Grey Goose vodka. Guests will also be provided free admission to the show’s accompanying lectures, valet parking, show catalog, a gift bag an unlimited weekend admission.The gala benefits the San Francisco Museum of Art.Regular show admission is $15 and features the antiques and collectibles of 50 dealers. Among the dealers will be Los Angeles based Voila!, which specializes in Belgian antiques, and the Art Nouveau glass of Big City Galleries out of Malibu. Laura Friedman of Planet Glass, who is also a Glendale City Council woman, will bring her modern glass. Dennis Boses of Off The Wall will bring a host of showstoppers from his Melrose store, and Papillon Galleries will dazzle with its fine art.The show is open to the public from 11-7 on Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 on Sunday.For more information, contact Rosemary Krieger at (708) 366-2710.ANTIK, NEW YORK NYBATTERSEA, SAN FRANCISCO CABIG CITY GALLERIES, MALIBU CABRIDGES OVER TIME, NEWBURGH, NYDENNIS CLARK FINE ARTS, CARMEL CALAWRENCE CONVERSO, CHICAGO ILCRAIG EVAN SMALL, LOS ANGELES CADECODENCE, SAN FRANCISCO CADOCANTIC, INC, LOS ANGELES CADOWNTOWN, LOS ANGELES CADRAGONETTE, LTD., LOS ANGELES CAEDENHURST GALLERY, RANCHO MIRAGE CAEUROPA, SANTA BARBARA CAPETER FETTERMAN GALLERY, SANTA MONICA CAERIC FIRESTONE GALLERY, TUCSON AZFIRST 1/2, PALM SPRINGS CAHABITE, SAN FRANCISCO CAPAUL HARRIS, TUCSON AZHEDGE, SAN FRANCISCO CAJUST FABULOUS, PALM SPRINGS CAKATY KANE VINTAGE & COUTURE CLOTHING, NEW HOPE, PALOS ANGELES MODERN AUCTIONS, LOS ANGELES CAMA(I)SONRY NAPA VALLEY, YOUNTVILLE CAMIMO MODERN AUCTIONS, PALM SPRINGS CAMONDO CANE, NEW YORK NYMONTECITO MODERN, MONTECITO, CAMONUMENT, SAN FRANCISCO, CANEXXT, DALLAS TXNOHO MODERN, LOS ANGELES CAOFF THE WALL, LOS ANGELES CAPETER PAP ORIENTAL RUGS, SAN FRANCISCO CAPAPILLON GALLERY, LOS ANGELES CAPLANET GLASS, GLENDALE CAR 20TH CENTURY, NEW YORK NYRED MODERN FURNITURE, PHOENIX AZREFORM, LOS ANGELES CARETRO GALLERY, HOUSTON TXROUTE 66 WEST, PALM SPRINGS CATHE SILVER FUND, LONDON UKVOILA! GALLERY, LOS ANGELES CAJEFFREY WINTER FINE ART, WEST HOLLYWOOD CA

Denver Modernism in Padilla's future

Crafted from enough black Bakelite to make hundreds of bracelets, a Bakelite top and formica front buffet from the late 1930s or early 1940s was the Art Deco showstopper in Bob Padilla’s space.”Formica was considered an exotic material at the time,” said Padilla. The manmade material didn’t become mainstream until the 1950s when it could be found in virtually every diner and kitchen around the country.He hoped the buffet, out of a Los Altos estate, would feast on $2,400. He also offered a matching Bakelite dining room table.Padilla announced at the Art Deco & Modernism Show that he was considering doing the Denver Modernism Show at the end of August and if they didn’t sell in San Francisco, his Bakelite furniture better be up for a long ride. The Denver Show is one of the few remaining Modern-themed Shows not produced by Dolphin. Padilla was intrigued by the area’s regional differences which might spawn some interest in some of the items that fit into his specialty.”I’ve heard there is a growing interest in Danish Modern furniture there,” he said, adding that the 30-somethings out there are not particularly concerned with the pedigree, but are seeking that great 1960s Danish Modern look. Padilla can be contacted at (408) 829-4749.He would not be the first California boy to make the sojourn to the show. In fact, the Denver Modernism show is heavily influenced by Los Angeles artists, designers and dealers. Several of the featured artists, and even the emcee, are Los Angeles natives.The promoter of the Denver Show, Dana Cain, is one of two Colorado antique Show divas, along with Nancy Johnson, who has just taken over Hillsborough. Cain has hosted more than 120 specialty antique shows, art fairs and festivals in Colorado. Former co-owner of Atomic Antiques on Broadway, she has been a dealer in mid-century modern furnishings and items for nearly 20 years. In 2007, Cain also launched the Vintage Voltage Expo, a popular 75-dealer vintage electronics show that is held each March.She is also an established author. Of the numerous books she has written, the most popular one on Amazon.com is “UFO & Alien Collectibles.” It is available used for as little as .37 cents, and has yet to be reviewed. She also co-authored a book on dinosaur collectibles with Mike Fredericks in 1999. It received rave reviews from the Jurassic world, and can be purchased for as little as $2.77.This year’s Denver Modernism Show is slated for August 28th-30th. Likely dealers include Southern California’s own City Councilwoman extraordinaire, Laura Friedman of Planet Glass, fresh from her Obama style campaign. PCH Modern of Redondo Beach will be bringing Mid-Century furnishings, and author Charles Phoenix of Los Angeles is fast becoming the official mascot of the Denver Modernism Show. He will once again prepare a humorous retor slide show, as well as offering vintage items in his own booth. SHAG, Los Angeles’ quintessential neo-Mod artist will have a booth at the show, and will also give a lecture on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.The Preview Party, held from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday is $15, one-fifth the price of the Los Angeles Modernism Show Gala. It includes live music, hula girls, and an open bar.Admission on Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., is $5. Sunday’s admission from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. is $8. Sunday’s admission also includes entry to the Denver Modernism Car Show.

Blagg breathes new life into industrial items at Keresztury's Weekend by the Bay

Larry Blagg, who creates decorations from Art Deco era industrial atrocities, will create another dazzling, shiny display at the upcoming Art Deco and Modernism Show slated for June 6th & 7th at the Concourse Center in San Francisco.Blagg is known for his aluminum and chrome objects that were once cogs in larger machines, so to speak. He will be bringing a wooden and metal motorcycle that was once part of a 1920s carousel. He hopes it will roar by for $1,800.A futuristic miniature rocket car by Baron Margo, the subject of the exhibit outside the front of the Los Angeles Modernism Show, will also be speeding into his space at the Art Deco Weekend by the Bay. Blagg’s tabletop model was signed and dated by the artist in 1997.”It is one of his earlier ones before they had shinier finishes,” said Blagg, who used to show some of Margo’s creations in his old Silver Lake gallery. They were virtually neighbors at the time, since Margo’s studio was also in Silver Lake.They had more in common than their proximity. Both Blagg and Margo are like the matchmaker from Fiddler on the Roof. Instead of uniting couples, they are Yente who join found objects, creating such a breathtaking new art from otherwise dull parts that they look as if they should have always been together.Similar in shape, but not in function, a composition vessel shaped like a blimp is actually an airplane part, $1,100. ”It was part of a radar system on a 1930s airplane,” said Blagg. Blagg will be one of over 250 dealers at the nation’s largest Modernism Show, which is celebrating its 25th year. It is triple the size of any other Modernism show in California. General admission to the Deco & Modernism Show is $10. For more information, contact producers Peter and Deborah Keresztury at (650) 599-DECO.

vintage baby items hotter than ever

Forget the designer gowns, amazing bling and celebrity sightings. The hottest topic at the swank Los Angeles Modernism Show gala was babies. Dealers and shoppers alike couldn’t help but notice the trend in fashionable clothing and accessories for pregnant women. Now, it has become chic to be pregnant. In the series of Los Angeles Modernism Show guest hosts, Courtney Cox, of “Friends” fame, was the most popular. Because she was more than six months pregnant at the time, her rotund belly actually created a bridge between herself and other woman at the event who had children of their own.The fad has also led to a resurgence in interest in vintage baby things, including carriages and buggies, christening gowns, clothing, bibs, bottles, baby books, baby-related ephemera and advertising, and nursery decorations.Bronzing baby shoes was a dying tradition that has come roaring back. Companies like Patty-cakes International Inc., which has been in business in 1934, has hardly been able to keep up with the phenomenal upsurge in demand for bronzed baby shoes.This baby craze not only foreshadows a huge baby boom, it reveals the dawning of a new era in the role of women in society.Women today, who are pregnant, have much more support than a few decades ago. In the 1970s, a pregnant homemaker was considered against the sisterhood, and to be called a housewife was a derogatory term. Today, things could not be more different. A pregnant woman is placed on a pedestal, and one who can stay home with their new baby is the envy of working women. Instead of telling war stories about their day at the office, women now get together and squeal with delight over their joyous pregnancies, baby showers and the fantastic children they are raising. This upsurge in pregnancies could not come at a better time. Social Security benefits are estimated to run out in the year 2037. More people are getting benefits than paying into them. As a result, more young people need to be born to support the older generation as their benefits run out.’We have definitely entered the post-feminist era,” said sociologist Kelly Abunda.She believes this new era began when Hillary Clinton left office as the First Lady.”She typified a brand of feminism,” said Abunda. “It has been in an incubation or transitional period since then and now that Michelle Obama is the first lady, women are free to embrace domesticity, particularly the raising and development of children.”The current first lady is not only fashionable and eloquent, she considers herself the first mother, above all, making it even more acceptable to have babies and raise children.Although most women’s natural mothering instincts are enough to foster this, even those not eager to have children are sick and tired of the unforeseen negative things that the feminist era ushered in. Women, during the feminist era, successfully proved they could perform almost any job that a man can, with very few exceptions. They reached that goal years ago and now that they’ve proven themselves, they are tired of the long hours, office drama, and the ever-lengthening corporate ladder.Many working women are finding that not only do they have to hold down an 8-hour-a-day job, but when they come home, their husbands still expect them to make dinner, take care of the kids, and handle most of the household chores. Some women are also unhappy with the effect that feminism has had on men. Some men have become feminized to the point where it is common to see one or two men getting pedicures in nail salons at any given time.Further evidence that we are now entering the post-feminist era is that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) never came up as a viable political issue in the last election. The proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution was intended to guarantee that equal rights under any federal, state or local law could not be denied on account of sex. The ERA failed to gain ratification before its deadline and although it has been reintroduced in every Congress since 1982, public attention continues to diminish.Hillary Clinton never uttered those letters once in her campaign for the presidency.

architectural gems of the san diego desert community

Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) and the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce present their Borrego Springs Modern III, a mid-century modernism tour in the desert playground of Borrego Springs.Slated for April 24th-25th, the event will reveal some of the hidden architectural treasures of this San Diego community, and will provide insight into the importance of restoring and preserving Borrego’s mid-century modern design.Friday, April 24th5-8pmOpening Reception & ExhibitThe House of Borrego Springs, the shop in Borrego for mid-century home furnishings, accessories and vintage art will host an opening reception and exhibit titled: Borrego Springs Modern: Plans, Renderings & Photographs, in which the five tour homes and selected significant Borrego Springs’ mid-century architectural designs will be featured. Housetinis, wine and hors d’oeuvres are sponsored by The French Corner.Saturday, April 25th11am-4pmMid-Century Modern Historic Home TourTour five select mid-century modern private residences featuring the work of renowned California modernists including Bill Krisel and William Kesling as well as stunning homes by local architect William Perry and Borrego Springs modernist Richard Zerbe. Each home offers its own unique design for desert living.Home Tour ticketsAdvance RegistrationSOHO and Mingei Museum Members – $25General public – $30Purchase tickets online HEREDay of Tour – $35/No discountsSaturday April 25th5-8pmSunset Reception & Cocktail PartyFollowing the tour relax and meet fellow mid-century modern enthusiasts in one of the most historically significant modernist designs in the Borrego Valley. The Borrego Springs Desert Club by William Kesling features an expansive view and offers an unforgettable way to unwind and watch the sun set over the Borrego Valley.Party tickets (Pre-registration required)Purchase tickets online HERESOHO and Mingei Museum Members – $35General Public – $45For more information, call SOHO at (619) 297-9327.

Bug-eyed jungle gym climbs for $3,500

Crowds gathered as Lianne Gold scaled the dangerous arched steps that made up the showstopping 1960s bug-eyed playground jungle gym that was the focal point of her Palm Springs Modernism space.She had the climbing critter shipped from Northern California to serve two purposes: to attract attention to her lamps and sconces, as well as to serve as a unique display for them.When she said she was foresaking all other antiques to focus on lighting, she can’t help but make the occasional exception for vintage playground items.”Now it’s holding all our custom lighting,” she said. However, she was perfectly willing to disassemble her stunning display for the right price

Modernism mania

The Modernism Season will be kicked off by the Palm Springs Modernism Show, which will be held by Dolphin Productions on February 14th and 15th at the Palm Springs Convention Center.The show will spur an entire week of Modernism-themed activities in Palm Springs, but that is only the beginning of the Modernmania that will be sweeping the antique and collectible world throughout 2009.Next on the agenda for Modern design lovers is 20th Century Cincinnati, the Queen City’s annual retrospective of the forward looking design trends between the First World War and the Computer Age. It will be presented by 50 dealers in the Sharonville Convention Center on the weekend of February 28th.More than 60 dealers will be assembling for Dolphin Production’s second major Modernism show of the year

top secret author

Last year, the Palm Springs Modernism Show’s premiered author was Sven Kirsten with his book “Tiki Modern,” but this year’s highlighted author is being kept top secret. The upcoming Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale is slated for February 13th-15th at the Palm Springs Convention Center.The Palm Springs Modernism Show, an 80-dealer show that celebrates everything great about modern design, is known for featuring authors that write about cutting edge trends in the world of Modernism.Regular dealers who will be returning to the show portion of Modernism Week include Dennis Clark of Dennis Clark Fine Arts in Carmel, Dharam Damama of Los Angeles, Fat Chance of Los Angeles, Trigg Ison of West Hollywood, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, Katrien Van Der Schueren of Voila! Gallery, and Lianne Gold of Neptina, Venice Beach-based dealer in modern glass lighting.In addition to an antique show and book signings, the 10-day celebration will include Palm Springs Art Museum films, gallery openings and art events, double-decker bus tours to mid-century architectural buildings, tours of Frey House II, a vintage car show, and retro soirees and martini parties.The Palm Springs Modernism Show is open from 10-6 on Saturday, and 11-5 on Sunday. Weekend admission is $15. A Preview Gala benefitting the Modernism Week Committee will be held on the Friday evening before the show, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more information on the Gala or the show in general, contact Dolphin Productions at (708) 366-2710.