THE VISUAL LANGUAGE of HERBERT MATTER

This flick is currently touring the indie film festival circuit, cross your fingers and maybe it'll land in yours. The DVD will be released shortly after the tour.

"THE VISUAL LANGUAGE OF HERBERT MATTER is a revealing look at the fascinating life story of the highly influential mid-century modern design master. Known as a quintessential designer's designer, Swiss born Herbert Matter is largely credited with expanding the use of photography as a design tool and bringing the semantics of fine art into the realm of applied arts.
Inspired by Russian constructivists and taught by artists such as Fernand Léger, Le Corbusier, and A.M.Cassandre in Paris in the late 20s, Matter designed a series of cutting-edge Swiss travel posters that won international acclaim for the pioneering use of photo-montage combined with type. Always striking a balance between fine art projects and commercial work, the taciturn designer found his own unique language, which resulted in the creation of such iconic works as the corporate identity for Knoll Associates and the New Haven Railroad. With his photography he was adept in documenting the early furniture of Charles and Ray Eames and creating covers for Vogue and Arts & Architecture as well as documenting his contemporaries Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning or Alberto Giacometti. As a filmmaker, he directed a critically acclaimed film "Works of Calder" about his good friend Alexander Calder, with music composed by John Cage. Later in life he was a professor for photography and graphic design among Paul Rand and Josef Albers at Yale University..."

 
Matter Teaser from Herbert Matter on Vimeo.

MUST SEE FILM: VISUAL ACOUSTICS/ THE MODERNISM OF JULIUS SHULMAN

Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman is a must see documentary film by Eric Bricker.

"Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, VISUAL ACOUSTICS celebrates the life and career of Julius Shulman, the world s greatest architectural photographer, whose images brought modern architecture to the American mainstream. Shulman captured the work of nearly every major modern and progressive architect since the 1930s including Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, John Lautner and Frank Gehry. His images epitomized the singular beauty of Southern California s modernist movement and brought its iconic structures to the attention of the general public. This unique film is both a testament to the evolution of modern architecture and a joyful portrait of the magnetic, whip-smart gentleman who chronicled it with his unforgettable images..."

Frank Lloyd Wright's USONIA: The Movie

Get the popcorn ready, there's a movie in the works involving Frank Lloyd Wright and his New York state co-op known as USONIA. Get the movie clip HERE and visit the film's website HERE

*above was lifted from PrairieMod

VERMEER PINHOLE CAMERA

Just in time for World Pinhole Day, April 24th...Poland gives us the Vermeer Pinhole Cameras. These stunning handcrafted veneered beauties are about as sexy as a camera can ever be. They can easily be snatched up on eBay...get yours.

Vermeer pinhole camera 0,2mm
Frame size: 60 x 90 mm.
Ltd. Edition.
Angle of view 75 degrees.

Pinhole diameter: 0,2 mm.
Body: Sycamore wood with brass fittings.

YELLOW OWL WORKSHOP: CERAMIC GHOST CAMERA

The cool folks over at Yellow Owl Workshop in San Francisco have a brand-spankin' new ceramic camera, good for the getting. You might remember their ceramic Polaroid cameras (sx-70 & One Touch) from last year-ish.

Ghost Camera 1960 (after Argus Brick)
-Glazed earthenware, cast by hand
-Cast & finished by awesome artisans in Portland,Oregon
-5" x 2" x 3"
-65 clams