Modernism Week’s CAMP (“Community And Meeting Place”) will provide a central hub for Modernism Week from February 16 – 26, 2023. CAMP will be inside the dramatic and beautifully designed Hyatt Palm Springs, conveniently located on Palm Canyon Drive at 285 N. Palm Canyon Drive with free underground parking. Located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, CAMP will include daily live and DJ entertainment, talks and films, an information desk, the Modernism Week store by Destination PSP, all day food, drinks, and specialty cocktails by Cheeky’s, book signings, and Professional Color Consultations by Dunn-Edwards. There will be fun photography settings and special guest appearances throughout the week. In addition, there will be many interactive sponsor displays including Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery, Brizo, JennAir, Dunn-Edwards, Toyota, FLOR, Minka, and Tommy Bahama. Entrance into CAMP is free and open to the public every day during Modernism Week starting February 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CAMP is also the ‘terminal’ for departures and returns for Modernism Week’s Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tours.
“CAMP is the central meeting place for all things modernism,” said David Dixon, CAMP Manager. “Our attendees may discover activities to attend, shop at our Destination PSP outpost, explore design elements for their homes, and relax and commune with fellow modernists. If Palm Springs is the epicenter of modernism, CAMP is the epicenter of Modernism Week.”
Here are a few of the activities available this year at CAMP:
CAMP Opening Day Ribbon Cutting and Celebration (2/16, 10 AM, free)
The 2023 Grand Opening of Modernism Week CAMP kicks off with an exciting array of opening day festivities that include live music by Palm Springs High School Jazz Band, Heat Wave Band, afternoon DJs, refreshments, and entertainment. CAMP opens at 9 a.m. and the ceremony begins at 10 a.m. with City of Palm Springs Officials and Modernism Week Board of Directors will participating in a ribbon cutting and dedication. The party continues all day long with special prizes and Modernism Week ticket giveaways, food and drink specials, and more musical performances curated by Jazzville.
Sponsor Activations
Ferguson will have an inviting and inspiring presence again this year at CAMP. At their display space, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery will showcase mod-inspired curated product displays by JennAir, Brizo and Minka. JennAir continues to break the industry mold through unparalleled design, breakthrough technology, and the quietest industry offerings. At CAMP attendees will be able to explore two distinct design expressions that redefine the high-end kitchen: They will discover the duality of JennAir two full-suite designs, with the traditional yet unconventional RISE™ Design and the sleek, minimalist NOIR™ Design. Brizo will showcase bathroom faucets from the Allaria, Invari, Atavis, and Litze collections and kitchen faucets from the Odin, Litze, Artesso, and Rook collections. Minka will display a Ricochet chandelier and stunning pendants from Studio 5, Ainsley, and Clarity. In the space there will also be a photo wall for anyone who wants to take a selfie or group photo plus a well-appointed lounge area for anyone at CAMP who wants to sit down and relax. Custom Trends and Influences books will be available for customers to take home.
Area rugs in CAMP are provided by FLOR. Dunn-Edwards Paints will provide professional color advisors to assist attendees in choosing the best color of paint for their projects.
On-Site Store
The Modernism Week Shop, a special pop-up store by Destination PSP, will offer a wide range of newly created merchandise that captures the retro vibe of Modernism Week. New products to be showcased include the official 2023 Modernism Week poster designed by celebrated artist SHAG, commemorative 2023 Modernism Week t-shirts, and a line of vintage barware and entertainment accessories.
CAMP Theater Programming
A 150-seat theater adjacent to the main CAMP space will be the location for more than 20 insightful and compelling presentations throughout the festival. Many of the presentations qualify for AIA/CES Learning Units (LU).
Highlighted presentations in CAMP Theater include:
· Restoring Midcentury Modern: An Architect and Builder’s Perspective (2/17, $12) An architect and builder share their experience renovating midcentury houses, including ones by Walter Gropius and Philip Johnson, to address thermal comfort, energy performance and durability.
· The Paul R. Williams Family Home Restored by Escher GuneWardena (2/17, $12) Frank Escher and Ravi GuneWardena, principals of the eponymous Los Angeles architectural firm, will present a lecture on their restoration of the 1952 family home of architect Paul R. Williams.
· G. E. Kidder Smith Builds: The Travel of Architectural Photography (2/18, $12) Kidder Smith was an astute storyteller – in words and photos – of modern architecture and historic built environment. As a preservationist, his efforts helped save the Robie House and Villa Savoye.
· Googie Modern Architecture with Alan Hess and “Googie” Film Sneak Peek! (2/18, $15) Author Alan Hess examines Armet Davis Newlove’s architecture which captured the optimistic and forward-thinking mood in post-war America and set the bar for what would become Mid-Century Modern style.
· Superbloom – Taking Inspiration from the Desert Landscapes of Palm Springs (2/18, $12) For millennia, the Coachella Valley has been a magnetic destination. Our panel will explore how the desert’s sublime qualities have inspired distinctive works of landscape architecture and art.
· CELEBRATE TWIN PALMS! The Desert’s First Modernist Neighborhood (2/19, $15) The organization that curates the region’s first Modernist neighborhood is celebrating its 10th anniversary and you’re invited to its keynote event.
· Frances Anderton – L.A.’s Multifamily Housing Story (2/19, $12) Famed for experimental single-family homes, Frances Anderton reveals how L.A. has also been a laboratory for innovative multifamily buildings by luminaries of modernist architecture past and present.
· Stories Untold — Asian American Architects and Midcentury Modernism: Influential Design and Social Exclusion (2/20, $18) Modernism is deeply influenced by Japanese design and architecture, Architects of Asian descent helped shape mid-century Southern California, despite deep-rooted discrimination.
· The Untold Story of African American Architect, Robert Kennard, FAIA (2/18, $12) Gail Kennard, daughter of African American architect, Robert Kennard, unveils a remarkable body of work and network of architects he worked with to create a new design aesthetic in a growing L.A.
· Black Leaders of Leisure in Southern California during the Jim Crow Era: The Implications of their Stories Today (2/18, $12) Historian Alison Rose Jefferson’s investigates the recreational places Black Californians created from 1900 into the 60s, during Jim Crow times, seeking to make the California Dream a reality for all.
· Sam and Alfreda Maloof and the Maloof Historic Home: Artful Living in Mid-20th Century California (2/21, $12) The stories of Ray & Charles Eames, Joan Didion, Frank Zappa, Sam Maloof, and others come together in this off-beat introduction to the Maloof Historic Home, a California Modernist treasure.
· Landscape Exhibitionism: How Early Modern Landscape Exhibitions Influenced Eckbo, Royston, & Williams in Palm Springs (2/21, $15) With rarely seen photographs and drawings, Steven Keyon and JC Miller show how contemporary California landscape design matured from a groundbreaking 1937 exhibition and on through the postwar years.
· Wet + Dry: Landscapes of Resilience and Material Exploration (2/21, $12) Increasingly, water has become a central focus of all landscape interventions. Holistic, systems-based design thinking that actively engages water extremes is at the core of Surfacedesign’s practice.
· “Going, Going, Gone” – Architecture and Preservation in Rancho Mirage (2/21, $12) Melissa Riche, author of Mod Mirage and founder of Preservation Mirage focuses on significant mcm homes in Rancho Mirage that have been lost to demolition and aggressive remodels since the 1980s.
· Rocky Mountain Modern (2/23, $12) Author John Gendall examines the history of modernism in the Rocky Mountain West and a contemporary generation of architects advancing modern design in the alpine context.
· Prescott Preserve – Oswit Land Trust’s Most Recent Success Story (2/23, $12) Prescott Preserve, 120 acres in the heart of Palm Springs, is being restored from its former state as a golf course into a spectacular nature preserve. Jane Garrison tells the story.
· A Tale of Two Kaufmann Wives and Two Tragic Endings (2/24, $12) Author Adele Cygelman delves into the lives of the two women who were eclipsed by their better-known husband and even better-known house, Neutra’s Desert Kaufmann House, and who both met a tragic end.
Films at the CAMP Theatre
· William Krisel, Architect – Remastered Film, Hosted by Director Jake Gorst (2/19, $12)
The world premiere of William Krisel, Architect screened at Modernism Week 2010. This will be the first public showing of the remastered film, created for this event. Filmmaker Jake Gorst will host.
· Remembering the Future with Architect Herb Greene (2/24, $12) Clips from a documentary in production on noted Organic architect Herb Greene, followed by a panel of experts: Art Institute of Chicago curator Craig Lee, producer Lila Cohen, and historian Alan Hess.
Live Music and DJ Entertainment
Modernism Week has partnered with Jazzville to offer an extensive range of FREE musical entertainment each day at CAMP. In addition to daily contests, a jazz brunch and drag bingo, there will be midday performances by a variety of DJs including Daisy Van Tassel, Rockin’ Robin, Tina Turntables, DJ Bobby from PS Soul Club, Alex Song, Gemini Nikki, and more. Also appearing at the Hyatt will be an eclectic mix of retro-inspired bands and DJs playing in the outdoor HooDoo Patio Bar for seven nights. Acts will feature “Soul Party with Keisha D” presented in partnership with the Palm Springs Black History Committee, The Moontones, The Dreamboats, and DJs from the Dublab Radio Collab.
Interior Design Consultations with ASID Professional Designers (2/19, $40)
Enjoy a private consultation with a professional ASID (American Society of Interior Design) designer.
Professional Color Consultation at CAMP (2/16 – 2/26, free)
Stop by the Dunn-Edwards CAMP display for free color consultations or to meet with a representative. Whether you are a consumer, interior designer, architect, or other professional – Dunn-Edwards representatives will be at CAMP to offer friendly, color and product selection guidance for painting projects. Appointments are highly recommended but not required.
Information Desk
A special Information Desk will assist customers with event or ticket questions, directions and purchase information. The free Official Modernism Week Program Guide and printed schedule brochures may be picked up here at CAMP.
Modernism Week top sponsors include Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Brizo, Dunn-Edwards Paints, JennAir, Toyota, Azure Sky, Flor, Soho House, and Willis. The City of Palm Springs is the Civic Presenting Sponsor.
World-famous service, quality hospitality, and a prime location in downtown palm springs, The Hyatt is the only all-suite hotel in Palm Springs. Separate living spaces and balconies make these accommodations extra comfy if you’re traveling with a crew or if you simply need a second room. Use group code MOD23 for a discount off the best available rate.
To receive Modernism Week updates, visit modernismweek.com where you may also sign up for M, an online magazine that offers original coverage of modern architecture, design, and experiences. Follow Modernism Week on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.