Weekend of Architecture and Design

Saturday-Sunday, October 9-10, 2021

Curated for lovers of mid-century Modernist architecture, the Weekend of Architecture and Design will feature tours, documentary films, exhibits, lectures, and parties centered around the father of Desert Modernism, Albert Frey FAIA (1903-1998).

Sponsored by the Swiss Consulate General San Francisco and USModernist Radio

The Exciting Itinerary

Saturday, October 9

LOCATION

Palm Springs Art Museum

10:00 AM	Palm Springs Art Museum Annenberg Theatre. Opening welcome from Executive Director Adam Lerner and Michela O'Connor-Abrams
10:15 AM	Keynote from Swiss designer Yves Béhar, author of the new book Designing Ideas, and founder of Fuseproject, a San Francisco-based firm that infuses commercial design with sustainability and social good, shows how design can have a positive impact on people’s lives, particularly in developing nations and impoverished communities. Behar was named Designer of the Year by the Conde Nast Innovation and Design Awards and will be interviewed by Michela O'Connor-Abrams.
11:00 AM	Green architecture photographer Emily Hagopian will deliver an image-rich presentation on the evolution of modern sustainable design. Hagopian will be interviewed by Michela O'Connor-Abrams.
12:00 PM	Lunch outdoors at the Palm Springs Art Museum Arthur Elrod Sculpture Garden
01:00 PM	Speaker from the Swiss Consulate General San Francisco
02:00 PM	A short film introduced by Frey curator Brad Dunning on Florence Knoll Bassett, the pioneering postwar entrepreneur described by the New York Times as the “designer of the modern American office."
03:00 PM	A walk to the Architecture and Design Center, where Frey curator Brad Dunning will lead a tour of The Modern Chair exhibition. Then general ticket holders will enjoy dinner on their own in downtown Palm Springs.

Sunday, October 10

LOCATION

The 1965 Tramway Gas Station (current Palm Springs Visitor Center)

11:00 AM	Brunch at the 1965 Tramway Gas Station, designed by Albert Frey and Robson Chambers as the Modernist gateway to Palm Springs. With its wing-shaped roof, the iconic building welcomes visitors to the city and serves as the Palm Springs Visitors Center.
01:00 PM	Alumination, a new documentary by Eric Bricker, director of Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman, at the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Annenberg Theater. This just-released film celebrates the history and lifestyle of Airstream trailers and suggests a blueprint for modern nomadic living. A Q&A with Bricker will follow.
02:30 PM	The Geometry of Home, a conversation with Albert Frey's godson, Marc Koller, interviewed by Kim Cross in the Annenberg Theatre.
05:00 PM	Cocktail party in the Palm Springs Art Museum Elrod Sculpture Garden, an outdoor venue featuring the works of Jeffrey Gibson and Jim Dine. Museum Executive Director Adam Lerner will kick off the evening and author Yves Behar will sign books.

People

Adam Lerner, Executive Director, Palm Springs Art Museum

Michela O'Connor-Abrams, Founder/CEO MOCA+

Yves Behar, Fuseproject

Emily Hagopian, Photographer

Jake Gorst, Producer of Florence Knoll documentary

Marc Koller, Albert Frey's Godson

Eric Bricker, Producer of Alumination

Brad Dunning, Frey Exhibition Curator

Kim Cross, Content Director MOCA+ and NYT Author

George Smart, Host of USModernist Radio

Event Details

The Weekend of Architecture and Design includes Saturday and Sunday events not marked VIP.

By signing up, you agree to these terms and conditions. Tickets are not mailed; you'll be on the list at registration. The itinerary and order of events are subject to change without notice or refund, although every effort will be made to provide curated experiences of similar value. No audio or video recording of presentations.

Weather in Palm Springs is usually cool and sunny. Many tours are on foot, so make sure to bring walking shoes. Evening parties typically involve dressing up a bit (jackets for men, cocktail attire for women) but all-day events are casual.

Precautions

In accordance with city, county, and state regulations, events will be appropriately size-limited based on indoor or outdoor venues. Participants are required to wear masks when not eating or drinking and maintain six-foot distances.

Questions?