Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
California Design, 1930-1965: "Living in a Modern Way"
Yesterday, I attended Press Day for LACMA’s new show, California Design, 1930-1965: “Living in a Modern Way.” With the intent of studying and showcasing the Golden State’s huge role in mid-century modern design, it features over 350 objects that range from textiles to furniture and stationery to toys. Yes, the Eameses, Neutra, Schindler, Magnusson Grossman, and other stars of the movement are present–and how–but the show isn’t merely a greatest-hits collection. Dividing the exhibition into sections of Shaping, Making, Living, and Selling, curators Wendy Kaplan and Bobbye Tigerman provide a balanced look at influences and influencers. In addition to the availability of new materials (molded plywood, plastic, fiberglass), technologies (aerospace, nuclear energy), and possibilities (travel, surfing), they stress the access and acceptance of ideas from Latin America and Asia.
Ruth Asawa's steel wire sculpture, La Gardo Tackett's achitectural pottery at LACMA
From a Giant Robot point of view, mid-century was the moment when Pan Asian and Asian-American creators and cultures first made a dent in mainstream cool. It makes perfect sense when you see something like Ruth Asawa’s S.250 made out of steel wire across the way from La Gardo Tackett’s architectural pottery. Vaguely ethnic shapes and aesthetics are re-imagined in a modern way, cleaned-up but not necessarily sanitized. Teapots, textiles, folding screens, and many other pieces with similar multicultural lineage are scattered around the floor.
I went to Montreal for the first time last weekend for a screening of Surrogate Valentine and a small coffeehouse gig at the Pop Montreal festival. The five day music/film festival sprawled across 58 venues with about 450 artists, including big names like Arcade Fire, Stephen Malkmus, and Kid Koala. I flew in from New York, which was merely a 52 minute flight… pretty painless other than waiting through customs lines and lack of sleep after a whiskey party at my host’s abode before the 4am trip to the airport… but that is a tale for another time.
Let’s talk about Poutine. Say it with me: Cheese Curds, Gravy, Fries.
I was in Montreal for three days, and somehow I ended up eating it every day. I tried not to, but it just sorta happened. How I managed to survive, I don’t know.
Poutine #1:
My hosts in Montreal picked me up from the airport, and after a croissant and a 2 hour nap, took me out to get lunch. We sat down at this Poutine place called Banquis, and I thought we’d share a plate, but it was every man for himself. Believe it or not, this is the smallest sized order. I struggled to eat half of it. You can’t really see the cheese curds, but they are there. Chillin’…under the gravy…and fries… and onions… and mushrooms, bacon, peppers, and more fries and gravy. This thing weighed as much as a child. Homeboy across from me ate his whole plate- it was the same size sans fixin’s.
Really?
I’ve had it before, about 6 years ago in Toronto, but according to my hosts it’s not the same there. Montreal-eans get all protective about their poutine. To be honest, I forgot what it tasted like- but I felt like these cheese curds were more firm and chewy. It was pretty good, but the portion and thought of eating that much alone kind of turned me off. That’s a lot of heart attack right there. I vowed not to eat any more cheese on this trip.
In the middle of eating this, I got a call from Kid Koala, who Eric Nakamura put me in touch with since he’s based in Montreal. He was amused, and perhaps slightly worried that I was eating Poutine so early in the day.
“that stuff’s for late night, after drinking…”
He invited us to come by his studio, which was a mindblowing experience, but I’ll save that for another post.
Kid Koala in his natural habitat.