The Architect and the Painter

Went to see the new documentary about the Eameses this morning and was very glad to have caught it. The story of the Office of Charles and Ray Eames is fascinating and complex. Over the years I've been learning it, a piece at a time. This latest film is, on its surface, about the partnership between Charles and Ray, but it paints as complete a picture as I've yet seen about the office and the work that took place there.

In my History of ID course at Art Center I take at least one evening, if not two, covering the office, because knowing how this work took place is an essential component to any designer's education. The Eames Office was and still is the ultimate model of a life spent in service to the glorious act of design.

At the screening I was lucky enough to run into Deborah Sussman and Paul Prejza and we had a lovely chat about the film. Deborah told me about an upcoming AIGA event at the A+D Museum across from LACMA, where she and the designer Andrew Byrom will talk about her work and their collaboration on the current exhibition at the A+D, Eames Words.

The event will be Thursday, December 8th, 6:30 - 8:30 and sounds promising. I have not seen the exhibit yet, and so I plan to go Thursday, if not sooner (I'm taking a group of students to see California Design at LACMA this Tuesday, so I might take the opportunity to visit the A+D then).

I can never get enough of this story. The Eames Office taught us how it is done, and there is always more of this lesson to learn. I don't know how long this film will be showing - if I were you, I'd catch it while you can.