Category: Art

Architecture, Art, Photography

Modernism Week 2020 Love Fest

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The 15th annual Modernism Week love fest to mid-century architecture, design, aficionados and lifestyles has concluded under the sunny desert skies of Palm Springs, California.

We had a great time visiting and photographing a spectrum of mid-century masterpieces – from homes and commercial architecture to vintage travel trailers, including a few photographs we’ve shared here over the past week or so.

We leave it with this photograph of the popular Modernism Week tour bus photo-bombing us while making a stop at Palm Springs City Hall.

Hope to see you next year!

 

 

 

Art, Automotive, California, Kustom Kulture, Photography

Flashback to the legends of Kustom Kulture

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Had a flashback to the golden age of California custom cars at the Dr. George Car Show today.

This is the incredibly awesome #Atomitron, which started life as a 1949 Studebaker pickup until John Saltsman dug deep into the ’50s and ’60s hot rod kustom kulture with the help/inspiration of some of the great SoCal legends of hot rodders.

A few talents behind the Automitron include headlights by George Barris, tail lights by Gene Winfield, paint formula by Larry Watson, interior by Crazy Kiwi Kustoms. List list goes on…

Architecture, Art, Photography

La Concha Motel

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Designed by one of my favorite architects, Paul Williams, the La Concha Motel opened on Las Vegas Blvd in 1961 with this memorable googie-style neon sign beckoning in travelers.

Originally located at 2955 S Las Vegas Blvd, the motel closed in 2004, and was saved from demolition and oblivion when The Neon Museum relocated the lobby and the iconic neon sign to it’s new location five miles away.

Architecture, Art, California, Photography, USC

Trojan Shrine – “Let him bear the palm, who deserves it.”

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“Here are provided seats of meditative joy, where shall rise again the destined reign of Troy.” – Publius Vergilius Maro

Sculpted by Roger Noble Burnham in bronze, Trojan Shrine was unveiled during the University of Southern California’s 50th Jubilee in 1930.  The five traits of the ideal Trojan are inscribed on the base – Faithful, Scholarly, Skillful, Courageous, Ambitious.

Architecture, Art, California, Landscapes, Photography

Indigenous Inhabitants

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One of my favorite places to spend the holidays is Newport Beach, where I love to study and photograph the “brutalist” architecture of Newport Center.

In 1967, artist Tom Van Sant created a series he called “Indigenous Inhabitants” that captured the region’s wildlife (mostly extinct now) in concrete using a technique called Intaglios – Italian for incised carving.

His work was commissioned by Architects William Pereira and Welton Becket.