MODERNISM, WAHH?!
It’s that time of year again!! Modernism Week is officially upon us and you all know what that means! One week of home tours, parties, lectures, music, events and more all celebrating the mid-century modern design, art, and culture that Palm Springs has become known for! I had only just moved to Palm Springs right before Modernism Week last year so this will be my first time experiencing it in all of its glory! As I was perusing the events list here, I got to thinking, what is modernism, r e a l l y. I know I can identify a piece of architecture or furniture as being midcentury modern but I felt that I needed to know a little bit more about what “modern” and “midcentury modern” mean from a historical and aesthetic standpoint in order to appreciate the festivities that are going to be taking place here!
So what is modernism anyway?
Modernism is defined as a style or movement in the arts that aims to break with classical and traditional forms. It describes an array of cultural movements rooted in the changes in Western society in the late 19th and early 20th century, these cultural movements were reflected in everything from art, to design, fashion, and literature.
Ok, so now what is mid-century modern?
Mid-century modern refers to an architectural, interior, product and graphic design that describes a change in thought, style and development from 1945-1975 (roughly.) This period of time was one defined by extraordinary economic growth. Its uncomplicated, paired down and seamless aesthetic arose from a desire to propel a postwar America into the modern era with a renewed sense of hope and a new way of thinking. The idea behind mid-century modern design was to create a bridge between the organic and the man-made, to bring the outdoors in, with large windows, simple lines, graphic patterns and quirky accents. These designs encouraged society to interact with their environment in a new way.
It makes complete sense that mid-century modern design has seen a huge resurgence in the past couple of years or so with wildly successful and popular shows like Mad Men (Don Draper, yes please!) which is set in the NY in the 1960‘s and showcases everything that is mid-century modern from advertising to fashion, and furniture! I can't wait to see everyone out and about town for the next week enjoying the weather and appreciating the architectural beauty of Palm Springs!
Don't forget to join us at our Cheeky's Grab n' Go pop up at 515 North Palm Canyon Drive for delicious fresh smoothies, sandwiches, pastries and more! Want to know more? Click HERE!
Happy Modernism my friends!! xo sarah
DESIGN ATTRIBUTES
simple lines // pure forms // flat roofs // statement lighting // indoor/outdoor living // graphic patterns // bold colors // mixing organic with man made
