If you have ever wanted a taste of the midcentury modern life or an excuse to visit Palm Springs, then Modernism Week’s Fall Preview is the perfect occasion. While Modernism Week won’t happen again until February 2020, this “mini-Modernism Week” is another chance to “celebrate and foster appreciation of midcentury architecture and design.”

Discover Midcentury Modern Architecture in Palm Springs

Modernism Week is dedicated to the education, preservation and sustainable modern living as represented in the Palm Springs area. Fall Preview does the same.

A slightly smaller-scale version of the February event, Fall Preview includes more than 50 events, from talks to tours to parties. This 4 day series of experiences is made for the midcentury modern aficionado. Not to mention, some of these events will be held in unique locations not regularly open to the public.

Reviving a William F. Cody Original

As a prominent architect in the Palm Springs area, William F. Cody was well-known for his hotel designs as well as his “contemporary residential commissions.” One of these residential commissions, The Fillmore Crank-Beverly Garland House has been recently rediscovered and restored. This home will be receiving landmark designation by the Indian Wells Historic Preservation Foundation around the same time as Fall Preview. A very lucky few Modernism Week Fall Preview Attendees will be able to tour the Crank-Garland house. Read more about the history, renovation, and preservation of this spectacular home here.

Empowering Future Architects and Designers

Modernism Week is more than a parade of homes. Started by local architecture and design enthusiasts in Palm Springs, this event showcases the city’s acclaimed mid-century architecture. Beginning in 2009, Modernism Week became a California 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, providing an annual Scholarship Program for local high school seniors pursuing a degree in architecture and design. Modernism Week also provides financial support to local and state preservation organizations, along with neighborhood groups, that seek to preserve modernist architecture in California.

Join Other MCM Enthusiasts

Whether you go in October or wait until February, you won’t want to miss Modernism Week. For more information on how to attend, visit their website!

Create Your Own Midcentury Modern Architectural Art Collection

If you are looking for the perfect piece to begin, or add to, your own art collection, visit our GALLERY. We have beautiful, original mid-century modern pieces by Raymond Loewy, Vincent Raney, and others.

The post Modernism Week Fall Preview: October 17-20, 2019 appeared first on Form Function Art.

Even in our beloved collectibles and antiques market, the tides are turning. It seems as though the value of pre-20th-century antiques has declined dramatically, in addition to more modern pieces. Some people say it is the end of collectibles, while some believe it is just a trend. We here at Form Function Art believe the latter.

So, What’s Really Going On?

Many antiques dealers are abandoning the “solely antiques” storefront for a mix and match venue, filled with both valuable collectibles and modern art. One such example is Todd Merrill of Todd Merrill Studio (formerly Todd Merrill Antiques). He states that custom-made pieces by living designer-artisans are now 70 to 80 percent of their business. “It’s a big behavioral change for the trade, for collectors, and for dealers. We’re not buying things on the secondary market for resale. We’re presenting artists and representing them like an agent.”

There are several reasons for this behavioral change.

1. The Great Recession of 2008. This huge economic downturn left many without expendable income. Where people used to pop into antique stores and buy whatever caught their eye, now people simply can’t afford to spend money on things that aren’t absolutely necessary.
2. The Minimalist Movement. Many Gen Xers and Millennials simply have no interest in “dust catchers” and are choosing to live with less “stuff” to create a sense of freedom in their lives.
3. Smaller Living Spaces. Due to economic circumstances, many people (especially young people) are forced to live in small apartments/homes, or even with their parents. There is also the Tiny House Movement that correlates with minimalism, where people are choosing to live in 100-400 sq. ft. homes to save money.

The Case for Collectibles

While these may seem like unsurmountable odds, we remain optimistic. History shows us that it can, in fact, repeat itself. The market ebbs and flows, fluctuating between bear and bull, hitting everything in between. Trends go out of style, then make a comeback 20 years later. One political party has the majority, and then the pendulum swings the other way.

We believe this is the case for collectibles. Many people are still looking for eclectic pieces to combine with their modern décor, creating a unique feel in their homes. According to Jamie Drake, a New York interior designer, a home without antiques “would be like a sentence without punctuation.”

The mass-produced décor of today simply doesn’t come with the same quality as something hand-crafted by a master. Take our Loewy originals, for example. Raymond Loewy was a visionary, an incredibly talented designer and artist. His designs are known the world over, from the S-1 Locomotive to the Skylab to Air Force One. Yet he only produced and signed a certain number of lithographs of these iconic designs. Owning one of these is like owning a piece of history.

While we cannot predict when this trend will end, we believe wholeheartedly that the market for collectibles will indeed rise again.

Invest in Your Collection Now

What better time to invest in original pieces? If you are looking for the perfect piece to begin, or add to, your own art collection, visit our GALLERY. We have beautiful, original mid-century modern pieces by Raymond Loewy, Vincent Raney, and others.

The post The Great Shift in the Collectible Arts Market appeared first on Form Function Art.