The
John Lautner Foundation News
June 2008
In this issue: Hammer Exhibit Tours, Archive progress
Let us know what you think. Write to lautner@johnlautner.org with your comments.
If you have problems reading this newsletter try looking at it online:
http://www.johnlautner.org/emailnews/June08.html.
John Lautner with
Joanne Segel in Segel Residence; photo by Carla Larissa Fallberg
Hammer
and Mak Center join to offer tours of Lautner buildings
As part of the celebration of Between Earth and Heaven,
the exhibit on John Lautner that opens at the
Hammer Museum in Los Angeles on July 13, the Hammer is working with the
Mak Center for Art and Architecture to offer tours of Lautner
buildings. Two dates are now
confirmed: July 27 and
September 14. Only members of the museum (at the
"Contributor" level and above) are permitted
to purchase tickets, which go on sale June 16. More information on the
tours will be available on the Hammer
website (http://www.hammer.ucla.edu/exhibitions/139/)
on June 6 and on the MAK Center website (http://www.makcenter.org).
Space
is limited.
Archive
preservation proceeds painstakingly
As reported in previous newsletters, the Foundation is pleased to
report that the Getty Research Institute has accepted the John Lautner
archive and is in the process of preserving and cataloging the
materials. Members of the John Lautner Foundation Board of Directors
toured a part of the Getty Research Institute last April, to get an
idea of the preservation process.
Albrecht Gumlich,
head of the Lautner conservation effort, shows Frank Escher and Karol
Lautner Peterson the record created for each item in the archive.
Karol Lautner Peterson, Christopher Carr, Frank Escher, and Judith
Lautner met with Wim DeWit, head of Special Collections and Visual
Resources, who then introduced the board members to Albrecht Gumlich,
who is overseeing the preservation effort. Gumlich
described and showed the group several of the methods in use for
different types of materials and different challenges .
Conservation
worker describes use of special paper for repairing tears and
reinforcing corners.
The Getty Special Collections section includes specialists in many
different aspects of preservation. Some work on original plans, some on
models, others on photographs. The primary goal is to stabilize the
material, which often means no more than eradicating insects and then
preserving in special covers and cabinets in climate-controlled vaults.
In the case of the Lautner models, decisions have to be made about how
to repair damage and whether or not to replace faded color elements.
When portions of a model are missing any replacement parts
must be removable without affecting the original materials.
Preservation appears to be an art as well as a science in this respect.
Gumlich displays the
type box created for model preservation.
Gumlich describes the decisions that had to be made in the preservation
of the Segel residence model.
Because of the detailed work that is being done on the extensive
Lautner collection, it will be several months before the collection is
available for research by the general public. When it is available, the
Foundation as well as the Getty will announce it.
Models
proceed apace
The models for the upcoming exhibit at the Hammer are being
manufactured by Design Models of California, Inc, in El Segundo,
California. The models will be built at the scale of 1" = 1', which is
sixteen times as large as a typical (1/4" = 1') working architectural
model. The large size allows a viewer to see into the model and more
easily visualize the effect the building has on people inside. The
large models were in various stages of completion when visited by the
board in April.
Chad Takenaka displays
the model of the chemosphere (Malin residence).
As with the restoration of models at the Getty Institute, the crew at
Design Models had to make decisions along the way when constructing the
large-scale models. Many copies of plans (as well as consultations with
the co-curators) were used to help with these decisions.
Some of the many plans
used in the construction of the models.
The Elrod Residence.
Photo on right shows view of ceiling from inside.
A portion of the Mar
Brisa residence in process.
One additional benefit to the use of several large models all at the
same scale is that visitors will be able to compare sizes of homes
easily.
Membership
Members of the Foundation are entitled to printed copies of the
newsletter as well as various discounts and invitations to special
events. Because of an agreement with the Hammer, the Foundation has
been unable to offer special events during the time the exhibit is
under development. After the exhibit opens, however, the
Foundation will be able to offer an event, and intends to do so.
Details will be in a future newsletter.
© 2008 The John Lautner Foundation
P.O. Box 29517
Los Angeles, CA 90029-0517
323 644 1534 tel. • 323 665 9103 fax
Write to us at lautner@johnlautner.org