Swimsuit study 1

Anti-Valentines day party, in a hot tub in the Valley, I try not to memorize the full body Ukiyo tattoos covering the man across from me, the heat or the Japanese demon masks on his knees frighten me off to the pool where I float, steam rising off my body making the cloudless 50 degree night, cloudy.

It is not about the pieces, but how the pieces work together

(or a blog post in which I try to sound smart)

A couple friends and I set out on a Sunday afternoon to find the Eames House or Case Study #8.  I say find because one of the things that are annoying about this city is that on one side of the street the street has one name and on the other a totally different name. (In this case Vance vs Corona Del Mar.) And once you run into the PCH you are completely screwed for a quick turnaround. So be alert if you want to find this hidden place.

The Eames house was part of the Case Study House program sponsored by Art and Architecture Magazine. The Case Study program houses were designed by major architects in the 40s-60s as experiments in residential architecture that used inexpensive and efficient materials. (See more information on wikipedia) There were quite a few of these in Southern California, the Eames House is neighbored by two or three. Very few are open to the public and even fewer are being lived in.

The Eameses were purveyors of the guest/host relationship. What you notice about #8 is that the house, separated between studio working space and living space, is that it has a flow and takes you from kitchen to dining to this spectacular view of the meadow and the Pacific. Perfect for dinner parties, cooking-dinner-after dinner drinks and sunset. This place really showcases nature, as is true with most glass houses.. the meadow outside, the ocean and tall eucalyptus trees. The Sunday I went the meadow was full of Monarch butterflies.

Currently the living room is on display at LACMA so we were only able to peer in on an empty room.  I need to make a point to come back after June to see the house in it's completed state. I think they are doing some conservation work on the house in the meantime.

In addition to being architects of this house, this husband and wife team designed furniture and other interior pieces. Their pieces are asthetic and functional. (Not sure if the exhibit at A +D conveyed that very well, or maybe just a bit to cerebral for a daft head like me)

For some reason you cannot take photos of the inside, which is very difficult when it is basically a glass house.  This holds true of the living room set up at LACMA as well.

I think actually I am not supposed to have these pictures up, but I guess when they ask me to delete this post I will.  My main reason though for this post, as is true with all of my art related posts is that I think you should go and support places like this.  Los Angeles is so keen on erasing its history. (I live by the Brown Derby and you can barely make out the hat, because it is surrounded by strip mall. mmmmm...boiling crab )

The cost to see the Eames House is only $10 and viewings are by appointment. Go to the Eames House Foundation for more information.

As a bonus, the one friend we were with happens to live in case study 18A designed by Rodney Walker. Which was also amazing and very true to its original state. The 1994 earthquake made some changes to the house and sent about 30 feet of meadow down the side of the hill, but still the view of the ocean is spectacular. This was great once in a lifetime opportunity because this house is not on view to the public.

There are several Case Study houses still for public viewing. Stahl house being next on my list, if I can find a willing participant.