Modernism Week’s CAMP (“Community And Meeting Place”) will provide a central hub for Modernism Week from February 16-25, 2018. Located at 230 Museum Way (directly across from the Palm Springs Art Museum in the future Downtown Palm Springs public park space), CAMP will include an information desk, a box office, a café by Cheeky’s, the Modernism Week merchandise store by Destination PSP, a demonstration kitchen, designer lounges and a theater. Entrance into CAMP is free and open to the public and will be open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM.
Here are a few of the activities available this year at CAMP:
Ferguson Demonstration Kitchen
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery will offer CAMP attendees an opportunity to experience The Ferguson Demonstration Kitchen, which will be outfitted with the newest appliances from Thermador, who returns this year as the appliance sponsor. It will also feature a comfortable lounge area, making it the hub of activity at CAMP. Top Chef’s Brooke Williamson will offer a special food tasting on Saturday, February 17. She is known for her four LA Westside restaurants that feature a gourmet beachside vibe and her culinary retail boutique Tripli-Kit in Playa Del Rey.
The Ferguson Demonstration Kitchen will host a variety of demonstrations featuring light culinary demonstrations with samplings offered throughout the day. All culinary events are free and open to the public with no reservation required. In addition to Ferguson chefs Chef John and Chef Michaele, who will do daily tastings, Ferguson has invited leading local chefs to also offer food tastings. These chefs are Chef Stephan Wambach of 4 Saints at the Rowan Hotel, Chef Eddie of Mr. Lyon’s, Chef Drew of Catalan, Chef Herve Glin of Mr. Parker’s, and Chef Daniel Villanueva of Beyond Balisage.
On Saturday, February 17 at 2 PM, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery will sponsor a blogger’s panel called “Are Social Media Influencers Today’s Modern Day Rat Pack?” This free event will by moderated by Jaime Derringer, Founder and Executive Editor of Design Milk and Dog Milk, who will curate the conversation of how the internet, blogging and social media has changed the way we connect, are inspired, the way we shop, and how we discover and set trends. Participating social media influencers include Anne Sage|@citysage, blogger, stylist, author of annesage.com, 'Sage Living' and co-founder at @lightlab; Erin Hiemstra of Apartment34, Caroline Lee of @teamwoodnote and Out of Line with Caroline Lee, Cassandra LaValle of coco+Kelley, and Taib Lotfi and Kenya Knight of Soukie Modern and Palm Spring’s own The Shops at Thirteen Forty Five.
Concierge, Information and Box Office
To better serve Modernism Week attendees, this year CAMP will feature a special Concierge desk and Box Office to assist customers with tickets and last-minute purchases. Information Desk staff will help attendees locate Modernism Week venues and suggest events to attend.
On-Site Design Consultations
CAMP attendees will be able to schedule thirty-minute sessions with either landscape design professionals or interior designers. In these consultations offered on two days, experts will give advice and recommendations on current or future renovation projects.
Ask an Interior Designer, 30-minute sessions from 10 AM – 4 PM, February 18, $30
In ASID LA’s “Ask a Professional Interior Designer” attendees will have the opportunity to sit down with interior design professionals to receive simple and affordable design solutions for their homes. Participants are encouraged to bring photos and existing floor plans of their home, as well as a wish list of improvements.
Ask a Landscape Designer, 30-minute sessions from 10 AM – 4 PM, February 18, $30
During the Association of Professional Landscape Designers “Ask a Landscape Designer” consultations, attendees will receive up to 30 minutes of advice from professional landscape designers who will help them create simple and affordable design solutions for their own gardens and solve their landscape design dilemmas.
Cheeky’s To Go – Central café/bar
This year, a café and bar managed by Foundation 10 Creative’s Cheeky’s restaurant will provide a central location for guests to refresh themselves with a full bar including specialty beverages and tasty food options.
Free Activities to do at CAMP
There will be several free events and “happenings” at CAMP that will offer fun and engaging activities for attendees. These include a Palm Springs Life photo opportunity with a large-scale photo backdrop of the iconic Kaufmann House poolside setting, made famous in the 1970 Slim Aaron’s photograph “Poolside Gossip.” Attendees can sit in lounge chairs and take photos of themselves as though they were in the original photo, creating their own virtual poolside party. Nelda Linsk, a former owner of the celebrated Kaufmann House that was depicted in the photo, will be on hand at CAMP to pose with attendees and sign copies of the 2015 Poolside Reunion photo that was taken at the residence in 2015 and featured her. Nelda will be at CAMP for the “Poolside Gossip Meet and Greet with Nelda Linsk” from 10 AM – 12 PM on Saturday February 17, 18, 24 and 25.
Modernism Week sponsors will feature a wide range of compelling activities at CAMP. Alfa Romeo returns to CAMP to provide attendees the opportunity to test drive the Alfa Romeo Giulia and the all-new Stelvio. Dunn Edwards will display several SHAG prints and will provide complimentary color consultants to assist attendees in choosing the right color of paint for their projects. Corian Design will offer a free mobile phone charging station and will host two acoustic performances by the Dreamboats, an upbeat retro Rock & Roll group that will perform during Modernism Week’s Opening Night Party. These performances will take place on February 16 from 3 – 4 PM and February 17 from 4 – 5 PM.
Palm Springs Life recently commissioned photographs of the simple yet elegant tools of celebrated modernist architect Albert Frey. This photo series, called “Frey Tools,” will be on display at CAMP. This free exhibition showcases exquisite images of Frey’s Rapidograph pen, compass, Rolodex and many more compelling images. In addition, Palm Springs Life will offer for sale a line of merchandise inspired by the photographs, including tote bags, t-shirts, and other items.
CAMP attendees will have the opportunity to explore the newly designed AlPod mobile home, which will be on display each day in front of CAMP. AlPod’s aluminum structure is strong and light, making it easy to transport and allowing it to be stacked in a modular fashion. Although it is designed primary for use as a home, it is suitable for use as a suburban cottage, a holiday cabin, an office, an exhibition venue or a mobile shop.
Also on display will be a kiosk promoting the inaugural Modernismweek@sea cruise on Oceana Cruises Marina. This 7-day cruise will visit culturally significant Mediterranean ports that demonstrate how modern influences in architecture and design have been artfully folded into these sometimes ancient cities. Modernists will explore Spain, France and Monaco through Modernism Week-curated tours and parties. Modernismweek@sea offers Modernistas enriching custom-curated travel experiences centered around midcentury modern design, architecture, art, culture and value not available to the general public.
CAMP Theater programming
Once again, a 150-seat theater will adjoin the main CAMP space and will be the location for more than 20 fascinating talks and presentations. These include:
“Atomic Ranch” Live Seminars + Home Tours, February 16, 17 & 18, 2018 from 10 AM to 2 PM, $45 each day
Atomic Ranch, the trusted Midcentury Modern resource, will offer three different seminars in the CAMP theater, each followed by a related tour. This three-part series, moderated by Atomic Ranch brand leader and editor Sarah Jane Stone, offers compelling expert advice for midcentury modern architecture and design enthusiasts.
Friday, February 16: House Hunting: Home Tour + Seminar
Ron Parks of HÔM Sotheby’s International and T.J. Pierce of Mid-Century Homes by Moniker Real Estate of Boise, Idaho will join Sara Jane on stage. These real estate experts will share tips and advice for finding a midcentury modern residence, including finding the right neighborhood and choosing a realtor. The panel includes a tour of current homes on the market.
Saturday, February 17: Design / Build: Home Tour + Seminar
Howard Hawkes and Kevin Kemper of H3K Design will reveal insights to some of their most successful projects, interior finishes and design, culminating in a tour of one of their beautiful transformations and a visit to their new H3K showroom.
Sunday, February 18: Restore, Renovate or Preserve? Home tour + Seminar
Palm Springs contractor Steven Shields will tackle the difficult questions about when to preserve, restore or renovate, sharing some creative resources for new products that give a nod to the era. Joining Steven on the panel is George Smart, of U.S. Modernist, to give perspective on the preservation aspect of midcentury modern home renovations. The afternoon ends with a tour of one of Steven’s completed projects.
Seymour's Classic American Mixology Seminar, February 24, 2 and 3 PM, $55
CAMP attendees will have the opportunity to learn how to make classic American cocktails at the Seymour's Mixology Seminar presented by Foundation 10 Creative. Using period ingredients, F10’s Beverage Director and co-owner of Seymour's, Steen Bojsen-Moller, will teach how to shake, stir and enjoy authentic libations that started the cocktail craze. There are two sessions, each priced at $55 (fee includes welcome drink and creation of 3 cocktails to enjoy in session). Attendees must be 21 or older.
Mod with A Twist, daily February 16 – 24, 5 PM, $45
Mod with a Twist has become one of the most sought-after tickets during Modernism Week. This popular “think and drink” event features thought-provoking and irreverent presentations and runs daily February 16 through 24 with two alternating panel tracks (Mod Dreams and Mod Life). Five informative, amusing and captivating 10-minute talks will be presented by leading Modernists and guest presenters on an amazing range of topics, accompanied by a richly detailed audio and visual presentation. Back for the fifth year, these programs typically play to a full house.
Fonts, Furniture, Monsters and Movies: the Modern World According to House Industries and Shag, February 16, 1 PM, $10
Andy Cruz, co-founder and president of House Industries, is joined by the artist Shag in a discussion about pop culture, mid-century modern furniture and architecture, and the intersection of West Coast aesthetics and East Coast advertising and creative design. After the discussion, the authors will sign copies of their books.
Donald Osborne on The Look of Things: Selling Design to the Masses in the ‘50s, February 17, 1 PM, $10
Join Donald Osborne as he shares a look into how consumers shopping for new automobiles in the 1950s were first introduced to the role design played in the creation of vehicles as well as other everyday household products, furniture and interiors. Based on a ground-breaking booklet published by General Motors Public Relations in 1955, this presentation discusses how role of technology and the development of new “space age” materials in styling and design inspired designers and impacted the products consumers brought into their garages and homes.
(Re)Introducing Ward Bennett, February 17, 3 PM $10
Ward Bennett was a once-celebrated iconic midcentury designer, but with no office, no archive, and no heirs, he left behind scarce traces of his legacy. Various Projects’ Elizabeth Beer and Brian Janusiak will discuss how they became de facto Bennett experts, made connections with the designer’s old colleagues and clients (one often leading to the next), sifted through materials that had long been packed away in closets and cupboards, and came up with a book that is both an introduction and an homage to the designer they admire. The conversation will be followed by a book signing at the MW CAMP Shop.
Making the Modern A-Frame February 18, 12:30 PM, $10
Commissioned by publisher Gibbs Smith to photograph a series of A-frame homes and cabins, architectural photographer Ben Rahn discusses the idiosyncrasies of these classic structures and his travels across North America in search of their stories. This talk will coincide with the release of his new book The Modern A-Frame.
Motel California: Celebrating the Midcentury Motel in The Golden State February 18, 2 PM, $10
The presentation celebrates the rapid rise and subsequent decline of the individually owned mom-and-pop motel in California. It will explore the world’s first “mo-tel;” motel architecture and architects; themed motels, such as Fairytale, Western, Desert, Tropical, Space, Sea and Mountain; motel restaurants, coffee shops, and cocktail lounges; rooms, floor plans, interior design and product placement; pools; signs; and the decline of the individually owned “mom and pop” motel.
“Potted Style:” Design Impact with Containers in the Modern Home & Garden, February 19, 10 AM, $10
With their endless potentiality for geometry, repetition and color, planters have become an essential design element in modern landscape and home decor. Mary Gray and Annette Goliti Gutierrez will share some of the ideas from their new book, “Potted: Make Your Own Stylish Garden Containers,” showing how to create your own stunning modern containers.
Designed for Hi-Fi Living: The Vinyl LP in Midcentury America, February 19, 2 PM, $10
This presentation explores visually striking midcentury visions on LP album cover images from the 1950s and early 1960s, liner notes and sounds that offer lessons for achieving modern lifestyles.
Midcentury Modern Garden Tour: A Revolution in West Coast Garden Design, February 20, 10 AM, $10
In this informative and entertaining presentation, Donald Olson, the author of “The California Garden Tour” and “The Pacific Northwest Garden Tour” will take attendees on a fascinating visual tour of several midcentury modern gardens on the West Coast, explaining the garden styles that preceded them and the cultural shifts that led to a new era in garden design.
Style Wars: How Magazines Shaped Taste and Sold the Postwar Modern House, February 20, 2 PM, $10
This talk is the story of “House Beautiful” editor-in-chief Elizabeth Gordon’s crusade, and how one pivotal moment (in a much longer tale of publishing, propaganda and politics) shaped American ideas of good taste and good modern design.
The Work of Roberto Burle Marx, February 21, 10 AM, $10
This is an opportunity to learn about Roberto Burle Marx, Brazil’s most influential and renowned landscape architect. He not only conceived designs for parks, plazas and private gardens, but was also an innovative painter and muralist and his work reflects his passion for colors and sensibility for music.
Michigan Modern: An Architectural Legacy, February 21, 2 PM, $10
Michigan’s State Historic Preservation Officer Brian Conway will present his new book “Michigan Modern: An Architectural Legacy” that carefully documents 34 projects from 1928 through 2012 and highlights Michigan’s contribution to America’s portfolio of significant modern architecture.
Midcentury Garden Design for the Modern Home, February 22, 10 AM, $10
Ethne Clarke, author of “Midcentury Modern Landscape” will offer a fresh guide for those seeking bold approaches to redefine their outdoor space, or wishing to learn more about the history of midcentury modern aesthetics. With this presentation, she explores the origins of midcentury modern garden design for the home, revealing how designers blurred the divisions between indoors and outdoors, creating gardens that were for living, a style that went on to inspire contemporary gardens around the world.
The Happening: Verner Panton and the Psychedelic Sixties, February 22, 2 PM, $10
This presentation explores Verner Panton, one of Denmark's most influential 20th-century furniture and interior designers. He used Pop and Op Art as inspirations and employed many new, synthetic materials, and moved Danish Modern away from the traditional wood furniture by using colors and patterns reflecting the psychedelic styles of the 1960s.
Landscapes for Leisure, February 23, 10 AM, $10
Through examples designed in the Coachella Valley from the 1920s through the 1960s, landscape historian Steven Keylon will explore the landscapes and practitioners responsible for the evolution of modernist landscape design, within the broader context of 20th century modernism.
The Watergate: Inside America’s Most Infamous Address, February 23, 12:30 PM, $10
This presentation reveals the secrets behind The Watergate, the midcentury masterpiece that became synonymous with scandal. This absorbing and meticulously researched history features a remarkable cast of characters, including senators, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Please join us for this illustrated talk, featuring vintage photos of this famous building, which the Washington Post once called “a glittering Potomac Titanic.”
Millard Sheets and Midcentury Modern Commercial Architecture, February 23, 2 PM, $10
Noted historian Adam Arenson returns to Modernism Week for the launch of “Banking on Beauty: Millard Sheets and Midcentury Commercial Architecture in California.” This is the first book-length study of Millard Sheets’s architectural commissions, including the marquee branches of Home Savings and Loan throughout California and beyond.
Sticks & Stones/Steel & Glass, February 23, 3:30 PM, $10
Award-winning architect Anthony Poon launched a high cultural, approachable agenda for Palm Springs housing that the media has coined, “This Century Modern.” Poon takes us on a journey weaving together light and material, art and business, music and design, and arrives at this thesis: art is shelter and architecture is a noble social good.
Commercial Buildings of Hugh Kaptur: Palm Springs Architectural Legend, February 24, 10 AM, $10
Hugh M. Kaptur is known for some of the most visible commercial structures along Tahquitz Canyon Way and throughout the city of Palm Springs. From hotels to fire stations to apartment complexes as well as office use buildings, Kaptur’s legacy includes these commercial structures as well as many lavish custom residences and modernist ranch home building designs. This presentation explains why he continues to leave his distinctive stamp on this city’s architectural landscape.
Q&A with Charles Phoenix, Ambassador of Americana, February 25, 1 PM, $10
Join author, humorist and tour guide Charles Phoenix shares stories from his latest book, Addicted to Americana, gives insightful Palm Springs’ best kept secrets, and reveals the backstory of his unapologetic obsession with midcentury style and design. Following the talk and Q&A, Charles will sign books, which will be available for purchase.