Come see the Roush Residence - a hidden MCM gem in Sacramento!

SacMod -- the folks who brought you the Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour -- invites you to join us from 1pm to 6pm on June 2, 2012 for a not-to-be-missed chance to see one of Sacramento’s hidden mid-century modern architectural gems in Arden Oaks.

Your ticket includes delicious appetizers by Aharona Catering, treats from award-winning Freeport Bakery, and a generous pour from urban winery Rail Bridge Cellars and indie coffeehouse Chocolate Fish Coffee. Enjoy Two Accordions’ unique modern quilts, DJ Christophe’s spins of vintage-era tunes, and a rare 1956 Nash Ambassador freshly renovated by Peter Steinert.

The Roush Residence (1954) was designed by Terry Waters, a brilliant and talented architect who studied and worked with three legendary 20th century modernists: Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin, John Lautner in Los Angeles, and Walter S. White in Palm Desert. This unusual steel frame home with open web beams must be experienced in person to be fully appreciated. There is no other house like it!

The Roush family founded a nationally distributed bread mix company and was famous for their Hillbilly Bread (“It’s Colossal!”) which is still made to this day.

We’ve arranged for separate arrival times to help avoid crowding and ease parking, but stay as long as you’d like to take in the displays and sights. Your ticket also includes a special commemorative 12-page booklet that highlights the history of the home and an opportunity to talk with local knowledgeable architects and the MCM mavens of Mimomito. Our special thanks to Rik Keller Photography who will be capturing the moment!

We're donating a generous 50 percent of the proceeds toward the upcoming exhibit "Ray Eames: A Century of Modern Design," at The California Museum tentatively scheduled to open later this year. Ray Eames was born and raised in Sacramento; she and her husband, Charles, were among the most important 20th century modernists.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Tickets via Brown Paper Tickets: $30 SacMod members and $45 general admission. Ticket sales for all shifts end at 5:30 - 6:00 pm May 31, 2012.

SacMod is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to promoting, preserving and protecting modern art, architecture and design in the Sacramento region.

SacMod celebrates the Roush Residence on June 2, 2012

Please join Sacramento Modern (SacMod) for a celebration of the Roush Residence in the Arden Oaks neighborhood of Sacramento on June 2, 2012. Reserved arrival times will be between 1pm and 5pm. Tickets will be available via Brown Paper Tickets.

- Tickets will be sold beginning April 23, 2012 for SacMod Associate Members at $30 each (members must use the correct password). To become a SacMod member, please use the "2012 SacMod Annual Associate Membership" link in the upper left hand margin of this blog.

- General sales will begin May 7, 2012 at $45 each.

- There will be no tickets sold at the door. Last day for tickets sales is May 31, 2012.

Appetizers and beverages will be served and a commemorative booklet will be given to attendees. Vintage photographs and information about the home will be displayed. Local architects and design professionals will be present to discuss questions about the home. For vintage car enthusiasts, a recently restored 1956 Nash Ambassador Custom with tritone paint will be parked in the carport.

The Roush Residence was designed by Terry Waters, a Taliesin Fellow and friend/colleague of renowned modernist John Lautner. Waters was also an apprentice of desert modernist Walter S. White. Waters' work was published in acclaimed design magazines such as Arts + Architecture and Domus. True modernists will be delighted in seeing this ultra-modern and unusual circa 1954 home.

Fifty percent of the proceeds from this event will benefit the development of the upcoming exhibit "Ray Eames: A Century of Modern Design," at The California Museum tentatively scheduled to open later this year. Ray Eames was born and raised in Sacramento; she and her husband, Charles, were among the most important 20th century modernists.

SacMod would like to thank these wonderful people and businesses for their volunteerism and in-kind donations at our event:

Mimomito

Rail Bridge Cellars

Rik Keller Photography

Aharona Catering
Freeport Bakery
Chocolate Fish Coffee

Two Accordions
Peter Steinert

DJ Christophe

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all, please arrive for your reserved shift on time, park in the designated areas (a specific map with detailed information will be emailed before the event) and wear flat-heeled shoes. For the homeowner's privacy, the event address will be provided after ticket purchase.

We look forward to seeing you there!

SacMod is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and protecting modern art, architecture and design in the Sacramento region.

Film Night 4.12.12: Contemporary Days

 Via the British Council's Design Museum

Robin and Lucienne Day transformed British design after World War II with striking furniture and textiles that signaled a new era of modernist sensibilities for everyday living. The Days, a husband and wife team from the UK, were often compared with Charles and Ray Eames.

Join SacMod and local Sacramento design professionals on 4.12.12 at 6PM at the Sacramento Temporary Contemporary Gallery for the documentary Contemporary Days: The Designs of Lucienne & Robin Day. SacMod is partnering with AIA Central Valley, Emerging Professional’s Group of the American Society of Landscape Architects Sierra Chapter (ASLA EPG), and Patcraft.

*** KINDLY RSVP *** via this link: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/239257

No charge; donations gladly accepted. There will be snacks, fun, and a one-year subscription to Atomic Ranch magazine to one lucky attendee via SacMod. (Three homes that were on the last Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour are featured in Atomic Ranch magazine this year!)

Hope to see you there!

More about the film via Design Onscreen

".... Robin's revolutionary furniture designs introduced materials such as plastic, steel and plywood to homes, offices and schools. His stacking polypropylene chair endures as an icon and now graces a Royal Mail postage stamp. Lucienne's abstract textile designs brought accessible elegance into the homes of postwar British consumers.

The Days' fresh design approaches, including their contributions to the Royal Festival Hall in 1951, helped fuel the artistic and commercial awakening that led Britain out of the devastation of World War II. The film traces the Days' personal and professional progression over the course of their careers, spanning more than seventy years - from their days at the Royal College of the Arts in the 1930s, through their long heyday at the forefront of British design, to their recent rediscovery by new generations of design aficionados.

The 60-minute film was created by Design Onscreen, with award-winning Scottish Director Murray Grigor and Cinematographer Hamid Shams."

More about the Days' designs and history can be found at the Design Museum.

 Via Pattern + Source

Join us for INFINITE SPACE: The Architecture of John Lautner

On Sunday, January 22, 2012, join Movies on a Big Screen, AIA Central Valley, SacMod, and Sactown Magazine for a screening of INFINITE SPACE: The Architecture of John Lautner at the Guild Theater at 7:30pm to 9:00pm. Please arrive in time to allow yourself a moment to learn more about our organizations and get comfortable before the film begins -- and feel free to stay to talk with us more afterward.

Renowned architectural filmmaker Murray Grigor explores John Lautner's dramatic spaces with choreographed camera moves, as Lautner himself provides the commentary, speaking with insight and within recordings culled from archival sources. Other voices join him: comments from Frank Gehry and his peers who were influenced by Lautner, the emotional memories of original clients, owners and builders, the remarks of Frank Escher, the architect who restored the Chemosphere house, and Julius Shulman who famously photographed all the great modernists.

Original drawings and historical photographs from the John Lautner Archives at the Getty Museum are layered with the artistic photography of seminal buildings, bringing to life Lautner's quest to create timeless space.

You've probably admired his designs from some of your favorite films!


John Lautner on Film from curbed los angeles on Vimeo.

Remember to RSVP for this event and get your tickets online via Brown Paper Tickets. Looking forward to seeing you there!

This film is a precursor to SacMod's celebration of the Roush residence in Sacramento - designed by Terry Waters, a Taliesin fellow and architect who worked with John Lautner. Stay tuned for more about this upcoming event!

SacMod is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to promoting, preserving and protecting modern art, architecture and design in the Sacramento region. We're the folks behind the Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour.

AIA Central Valley's mission is to improve the quality of the built environment through leadership, mentorship and design excellence; fostering sustainability beyond architecture.

Movies on a Big Screen is an ongoing film festival/microcinema that started in September of 2006 in Sacramento, CA.

Sactown Magazine is a bold bi-monthly magazine that gives you a refreshingly different perspective on our great city.

AIA Central Valley and SacMod Screening of "EAMES: The architect and the painter"

On 12.19.11, AIA Central Valley (AIACV) and SacMod screened "Eames: The Architect and The Painter" to over fifty design enthusiasts.

The event was held at AIACV in Sacramento. SacMod and AIACV took the opportunity to celebrate our native daughter, Ray (Kaiser) Eames. We provided several images from her life in Sacramento.

Ian Merker of AIACV was the best host ever!

Special thanks to Mimomito who brought cupcakes decorated with Ray's fabric pattern to celebrate what would have been Ray's 99th birthday on 12.15.11 and took pictures of our event.

To kick off the film screening, Eames Demetrios graciously Skype'd in and spoke with us about his grandparents and their work.

We are grateful to Miles Treaster & Associates who brought several examples of the Eameses' furniture, an original rare wooden splint developed for WW2, plus several brochures, an Eames coffee table book, and other written materials.

Our friends from Sactown Magazine generously distributed copies of their original Premier Issue from Dec/Jan 2006/2007 (with a well-written and researched article about Ray Eames) and their current issue. Happy 5th Anniversary, Sactown!

Thanks to KVIE for the wonderful gift bag and to Jason Cohn of Bread and Butter Films for printing two film posters for our silent auction.

Last but not least, thanks to those who attended and supported our event! We received great feedback from those who attended. The film provided an intriguing glimpse into the Eameses' creative process and dedication. We highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in their lives and prolific work, which ranges from architecture, furniture, film, textiles, art, industrial design to other intellectual and creative pursuits. This film celebrates their work and humanizes them -- not only highlighting their triumphs but also what went on behind the scenes.

Look for more events in 2012, including the screening of Infinite Space, a documentary about John Lautner -- one of the most revered 20th century architects. We will also be having an event to celebrate a very special residence in Sacramento designed by Terry Waters, an associate of John Lautner.

Celebrating Ray!

Happy Birthday to Ray Eames, Sacramento's native daughter and one of the most important 20th century modernists! See my earlier post about Ray Kaiser Eames for more background on her Sacramento roots.

She would have been 99 today. We'll be celebrating Ray on Monday, December 19, 2011 at the AIACV/SacMod screening party for "EAMES: The Architect and the Painter." Special thanks to our good friends at AIACV hosting this event. And thanks to those of you who RSVP'd via Brown Paper Tickets -- be sure to arrive by 7:30 to ensure seating. Early arrivals get priority Eames chair seating!!

Festivities for the evening will include:
- a silent auction for two posters from the film;
- a furniture display courtesy of the wonderful folks at Miles Treaster & Associates;
- photos of Ray's life in Sacramento;
- vegan cupcakes from the lovely gals at Mimomito;
plus other displays and surprises!

SacMod's 2011 commercial building tour posted on Historypin

 

Thanks to my pal, Amanda B., I was able to easily and quickly post SacMod's 2011 self-guided commercial building tour online on Historypin.

Historypin is a site for posting historic photographs using Google Maps as a base. You can also write additional information about these images and organize them into tours and collections. Historypin is free to use, both as a visitor and user. There is also a free smartphone app that supports iPhones and Android smartphones. I tested it on my iPhone and it worked perfectly (though many more features currently exist on the site versus the app). Historypin's developers are working on adding new features for next year.

The possibilities are endless for historians, architectural buffs, archivists, and anyone who loves vintage images. This is only the beginning; can't wait to add more from SacMod's other tours!

So little time, so much to tell!

Busy, busy month! Swinging by the old blogeroo to make a couple of announcements. You can stay better informed regarding Sacramento modernism by joining SacMod's Facebook page. Join us!

Vintage Sacramento Zoo postcard from my Flickr photostream

First, good news for the hyperbolic paraboloid structures at the entrance of the Sacramento Zoo. I've written about these beauties before.

The City of Sacramento hired consultants Mead & Hunt for a Cultural Landscape Survey of William Land Park. (You may download their draft report here.) SacMod has been watching recent developments at the Zoo, particularly those endangering the circa 1961 entrance structures. Mead & Hunt determined that the Zoo entrance and Fairytale Town are eligible for national, California, and Sacramento historic registers. SacMod will continue to monitor and advocate for these structures.

 

Second, Atomic Ranch Magazine has just published the Atomic Ranch 2012 Calendar. We're excited because it features two homes that were on the 2011 Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour! Specifically a home designed by architect Carter Sparks and a Sacramento Eichler home. Atomic Ranch came to Sacramento this summer. Three homes from last year's tour will be featured in separate upcoming issues. I'll be sure to post as the articles and pictures are published.

Finally, AIACV and SacMod are teaming up again -- join us for a free screening of EAMES: The Architect and The Painter. You may recall from my earlier posts that Ray Eames was born and raised here in Sacramento. Join us and other like-minded modernists at AIACV on Monday, December 19, 2011 from 8 - 10pm. Reservations for this free event through Brown Paper Tickets.

Even more things being planned for future SacMod events! Stay tuned!

Walking the walk... and talking the talk!

Big day this Sunday, 9.18.11!

From about 10am to 3pm SacMod will be at Marshall Park (corner of 27th and J Street) for the street fair for Sacramento Old City Association's 36th Annual Home Tour. We'll be handing out SacMod's free self-guided walking tour which features the exteriors of six commercial mid-20th century buildings in Midtown. Come and support SOCA, who has been a huge supporter of MCM in Sacramento (see my previous post for details).

Tomorrow will also be the first day SacMod will be offering annual associate memberships at a one-time special discount. Stop by for details!

Later that same day at 7pm, come see the presentation on "Sacramento Architecture: From the Gold Rush to Mid-Century Modern." My friend and historian, Bill Burg, will be talking about the Gold Rush through the 1930s; I'll be handling the part about mid-20th century architecture in town. The discussion will be at Time Tested Books and is part of the Living Library Series.

Hope to see you tomorrow, one way or the other! We'll be the ones drinking lots of coffee :)

Free self-guided walking tour of six Midtown MCMs on September 18, 2011!

Come say hello to SacMod at Marshall Park (J and 27th Streets) on September 18, 2011 during the street fair for Sacramento Old City Association's 36th Annual Home Tour.

You know what makes for a great day? Seeing the beautiful historic homes on SOCA's tour and learning about six Midtown MCM buildings that you walk past all the time!

SOCA's tour starts at Marshall Park, at the corner of 27th and J Street. A street fair at the park features local contractors and artisans specializing in historic home rehab and remodeling, local businesses, artists and crafters displaying their wares, local nonprofits, advocacy and history organizations. Local musicians Tender Cinders, Garage Jazz Architects, The Freebadge Serenaders, and Emile Dalkey will perform in the park. Home Tour participants can show their tour wristband for a 15% discount in the restaurants of the nearby Sutter District.

SacMod will be at the fair from about 10am to 3pm and will have copies of our free self-guided walking tour which features the exteriors of six commercial mid-20th century buildings in Midtown.

Our friends at SOCA have been huge supporters of SacMod and MCM architecture in Sacramento. SOCA's efforts were instrumental in getting the SMUD Headquarters building nominated on the National Register of Historic Places.

MCM fans, it's our turn to support SOCA -- bring your walking shoes and see you there!

Thanks for joining us at the Crocker Art Museum for Visual Acoustics

Introductions by Ian Merker, AIACV and Gretchen Steinberg, SacMod

Many, many thanks for those of you who joined us at the successful screening of Visual Acoustics at the Crocker Art Museum on Thursday, April 7, 2011. We were pleased and humbled to see the event almost sold out. Thanks to the Crocker Art Museum for collaborating with AIACV and SacMod and letting us use their new and beautiful state-of-the-art venue. Thanks also to Director Eric Bricker for making his wonderful film (his first!) and taking the time out of his busy schedule to join us.

Our educational display with photos taken by Julius Shulman in Sacramento

Eric Bricker, Director of Visual Acoustics and Gretchen Steinberg, SacMod

Dane Henas from SacMod being goofy -- doing his best Vanna White impression, ha ha!

We presented an educational display with several photos that Julius Shulman took in Sacramento in the early 1960s. We decided to seek them out and research them at the last minute so people could enjoy a special connection with him in our town. Many thanks to historian John Crosse (who was also a researcher for Visual Acoustics), JW and B for their contributions to our educational display. Thanks also to Ian Merker from AIACV (our colleague and co-presenter extraordinaire) for printing the images and providing the materials to display the images. Special thanks also to our former SacMod colleague Kris Lannin Liang who had to move away from Sacramento but initially worked on this event.

Jerry Blomberg and Dane Henas with an original copy of an ad featuring Jerry's Sacramento home

My favorite Shulman pictures taken in Sacramento are of a home in South Land Park Estates; these were featured in a 1961 ad for American Saint Gobain glass. The home was collaboratively designed by homeowner Jerry Blomberg and George Muraki, with George Muraki being the architect on record. Last year we printed the ad we had researched for the Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour display. Little did we know at the time that the images were taken by Julius Shulman. I invited Mr. Blomberg to join us at the event and was so pleased to see him show up -- with his own copy of the ad and another magazine article that I had been looking for but was unable to find in time!

Director Eric Bricker leading a post-screening discussion

Here are more photos taken at the event. Thanks again to everyone who made the event possible; and a shout-out to Midtown Monthly and to Sacramento area bloggers Davis Life Magazine, Mimomito, Rebecca Crowther of Sac History Happenings (Sacramento Bee), Capitol Creative Collective, Glitter and Grunge and our Twitter friends for helping spread the word.

Did you know that Julius Shulman photographed several Sacramento buildings?

We will be sharing some of these photographs with you in person at Crocker Art Museum's Film Frame: Visual Acoustics this Thursday evening. My favorite photos of the bunch are of a residence designed by Sacramento architect George Muraki for the Blomberg family. You may recall that Mr. Muraki's personal home was featured in the Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour last June.

Why not come directly to the Crocker after work? Remember -- admission includes access to the museum. Have a bite to eat at the Crocker Cafe and relax with a cocktail.

See Crocker's website for details on buying tickets. Hope to see you there.

Visual Acoustics at the Crocker with Director Eric Bricker on April 7, 2011 at 7PM

"Stahl House (CSH#22)” photographed by Julius Shulman (1960)

"In a way, you can stop time." - Julius Shulman

A special screening of the documentary Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman will be held at the Crocker Art Museum on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 7:00 PM. This film celebrates the life and career of Julius Shulman, whose photographs brought modern architecture and progressive architects into American mainstream. Director Eric Bricker will introduce the film and lead a post-screening discussion. Anyone with an interest in Modernism, photography, architecture, and design should enjoy this film.

“Kaufmann House” photographed by Julius Shulman (1947)

Part of Crocker Art Museum's Film Frame series during "Thursdays 'til 9", Visual Acoustics is being presented in collaboration with SacMod -- an organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and protecting modern art, architecture and design in the Sacramento region -- and AIA Central Valley, the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects. 

Tickets to the event are $6 for Crocker Art Museum members and $12 for non-members. Admission to the film includes admission to the museum, which will be open until 9:00pm. Food and drink will be available for purchase at the Crocker Cafe until 8:45 PM. For more information and to order tickets online, go to http://crockerartmuseum.org/learn-do/details/7705-film-frame

Julius Shulman, from VISUAL ACOUSTICS, an Arthouse Films release 2009. Copyright Aiken Weiss.

A self-taught photographer, Julius Shulman possessed an intuitive ability to capture spaces from the best perspective. By including people in his photographs, Shulman brought modern architecture to life.
 
I've been digging and cross-referencing about Julius Shulman taking photographs in Sacramento. As an added treat for folks who join us at the screening, I'll be sharing these photos.

“Julius Shulman and Richard Neutra” (1950)

Visual Acoustics highlights the importance of great design and underscores the need for further celebration, education and preservation of excellent mid-20th century architecture. The architects that Shulman worked with believed they could change the world through better design. That spirit and excitement is alive and well here in Sacramento's design community; I would like to see this further encouraged and nurtured.



Please join AIACV and SacMod at the Crocker to see this wonderful film.
All photos from VISUAL ACOUSTICS, an Arthouse Films release 2009. Copyright J. Paul Getty Trust.

A nice surprise

I found a really nice handmade card on my doorstep this week from the Short Center South! The Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour donated a $3,000 from this year's tour.

The Short Center South is a South Land Park neighbor and a wonderful day program that serves adults with developmental disabilities. The Center offers classes in a studio setting, taught by artists working in their own disciplines. Classes include drawing, painting, ceramics, mosaics, photography, music, dance, theatre, textiles, crafts, sign language, reading, computers, physical education/exercise and classes that further social skills and personal growth.

My kids holding the card to show how big it is!

If you haven't visited their studios and seen their artwork, check them out. You probably have already seen their work around town; they recently completed a public mural that is displayed on Franklin Boulevard. For more information about their work, see their website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

The Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour is proud to support our neighbors at the Short Center South -- many thanks to all of you who participated and contributed!

A Real Honor

We had the distinct pleasure of showing the California State Historical Resources Commission some of the homes and points of interest on the Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour yesterday.

This morning, the three of us (aka Sacramento Modern) who put together the tour had the honor of receiving a resolution from the Commission during their quarterly meeting, which was held in the chambers of Sacramento's New City Hall.

Again, thank you to all who participated as a homeowner, sponsor, advertiser or volunteer for the home tour. We're proud to be highlighting and celebrating our mid-century modern treasures. We are honored to be considered a part of the larger preservation community and look forward to working further in this capacity.

2nd set of official photos: 2010 Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour

Here is the second set of official photos from the 2010 Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour taken by our friend Toni Okamoto.

We again thank all who participated, especially the homeowners, sponsors, advertisers, and volunteers. If you would like to participate by showing your home, being a sponsor or advertiser, volunteering -- or nominating a neighborhood, building, structure, or otherwise sharing relevant information and history regarding the Sacramento region's MCM art, architecture and design treasures -- please drop us a line at sacramentomodern (at) comcast (dot) net.

1st official photos: 2010 Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour

Here is the first set of official photos from the 2010 Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour taken by our friend John DiDomenico. More photos to follow soon; stay tuned!

For other perspectives, check out:
A blog post by Erin of Bows & Sparrows regarding her tour experience

Another blog post by Kimberly of Mid-Century Living regarding the tour

MidCenturyMadam's blog post regarding her experience

Rynobot's tour experience on his Flickr photostream

In the meantime, we invite interested and interesting people to join us. See our previous post about joining Sacramento Modern.

Join Sacramento Modern (Help)!

Sacramento Modern (SacMod) is looking for like-minded, hard-working mid-century modern and modern enthusiasts to carry out our mission to promote, preserve and protect modern art, architecture and design in the Sacramento region.

The home tour was the first of many events we'd like to plan that celebrate our area's modern heritage. We can't do this alone; we need your help. Here are some examples of what you can do:

1)  Join SacMod: be on our board of directors or be a member.

- If you are interested in being a board member, drop us a line and tell us a little about yourself: your interests, skill set, available time to commit. We encourage architects, designers, artists, event planners, volunteer coordinators, historians, organizers, accountants, cheery greeters, heavy lifters and go-getters.

- If you are interested in being a volunteer at a future event, drop us a line.

- If you cannot commit energy and time, consider joining as a member. We'll be offering memberships soon.

2) Nominate buildings, residences, structures, neighborhoods, architects, designers, builders, landscapes, and other local modern treasures that you believe should be featured in future events and/or highlighted by SacMod.

3) Share your knowledge. Let us know if you have any information to share regarding any local modern treasure (architecture, art, design, crafts, etc.) or any local artisan, designer, architect or craftsperson.

We look forward to hearing from you. Click here:    I'M IN!