Many events are planned to coordinate with the major exhibition on John Lautner offered by the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. The exhibition opens July 13 and ends October 12, 2008. In cooperation with the MAK Center for Art and Architecture, the UCLA Department of Architecture and Urban Design, and the UCLA Film and Television Archive, the Hammer is offering tours, panel discussions and film screenings. An architectural touring company is offering a tour of Lautner buildings as well.
The Hammer Museum is inviting members of the John Lautner Foundation to an exhibit reception on July 12, in the evening. If you are a member you should have received an invitation already or will in the next few days. If you join now your name will be forwarded to the Hammer and an invitation will be sent to you. You must have an invitation to be admitted. Please note that any memberships received after July 8 are not likely to be in time to get an invitation.
Tours d’Art Art and Architecture Tours is offering a one-day tour to be held Friday, July 18, 2008. The tour is to include visits to the Sheats-Goldstein residence, the Harpel residence (recently renovated), the Sheats apartments (aka “L’Horizon”), and the current television studio, which is a remarkable replica of the Malin residence (aka “chemosphere”).
Space is limited. Contact Karen Bergenthal through her website, Tours d’Art, for details and to register if there is still space available.
The Hammer Museum, in cooperation with the UCLA Film and Television Archive, will present four films that feature Lautner buildings in July, and will jointly host a sneak preview of the new feature documentary on Lautner (by Murray Grigor) in September. According to the Hammer:
All Hammer public programs are free. Tickets are required, and are available at the Billy Wilder Theater Box Office one hour prior to start time. Limit one ticket per person on a first come, first served basis. Members receive priority seating, subject to availability. Reservations not accepted, RSVP’s not required.
Diamonds are Forever John Lautner’s homes have been the dynamic backdrop for dozens of Hollywood films, television shows, and music videos. The Hammer screens four of these films over an intensive Lautner-inspired weekend.
Less Than Zero John Lautner’s homes have been the dynamic backdrop for dozens of Hollywood films, television shows, and music videos. The Hammer screens four of these films over an intensive Lautner-inspired weekend.
The Big Lebowski John Lautner’s homes have been the dynamic backdrop for dozens of Hollywood films, television shows, and music videos. The Hammer screens four of these films over an intensive Lautner-inspired weekend.
Body Double John Lautner’s homes have been the dynamic backdrop for dozens of Hollywood films, television shows, and music videos. The Hammer screens four of these films over an intensive Lautner-inspired weekend.
Infinite Space: The Architecture of John Lautner This sneak preview of a new documentary feature film traces the lifelong quest of visionary genius John Lautner to create “architecture that has no beginning and no end.” It is the story of brilliance and of a complicated life—and the most sensual architecture of the 20th century. Renowned architectural filmmaker Murray Grigor explores Lautner’s dramatic spaces as Lautner himself provides the commentary, speaking with insight and wit in recordings culled from archival sources. Includes comments from Frank Gehry, original clients, owners and builders, Frank Escher, and Julius Shulman.
Murray Grigor–writer/director, Anna Thomas + Sara Sackner–producers.
A sneak preview of the new documentary, Infinite Space: The Architecture of John Lautner, by renowned filmmaker Murray Grigor, will screen at the Billy Wilder Theater in the Hammer museum in Los Angeles on September 18, 2008, at 7 p.m.
This screening is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. For more information, please visit the Hammer website: www.hammer.ucla.edu
Following this preview, the film is expected to screen in various film festivals.
A new website with a video preview of the film will be offered by the filmmaker in a couple of weeks. When more information is available we will post it on this website.
The Hammer Museum is co-presenting a panel discussion on John Lautner and others on July 15 at 7 pm. According to the Hammer website:
Panel Discussion
Building Character A lively panel will discuss high profile Modernist monuments that ultimately become protagonists when used as locations in feature films. Some highlighted architecture will include John Lautner’s “Chemosphere”, which played a starring role in Body Double, Neutra’s Lovell House, featured in L.A. Confidential, and the Marin Country Courthouse, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is a central location in Gattaca. Co-presented with the UCLA Department of Architecture and Urban Design.
Education about and preservation of Lautner buildings
