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An Eames Primer [Paperback]

Eames Demetrios (Author)
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Charles and Ray Eames were heroes to my generation of designers and I'm thrilled to say have once again become heroes to the present generation. The work of their office in all its variety is amazing and inspirational and demonstrates a real fascination with the detail of life. It is intensely human, charming, and kind. Their grandson, Eames Demetrios (I wish my mother had called me Eames), has documented his grandparents' life in great detail. It makes enthralling reading for any student of 20th-century creativity."--Terence Conran

"From 1942 the Office of Charles and Ray Eames grew like L.A. itself to a focal center in the widest world of design. This is the fascinating personal account of Charles and Ray and of scores of their talented associates who made it an atelier of our times, creating a charmed house of steel, a dozen museums, a hundred films, and myriad seats that welcome you in airports everywhere. Eames Demetrios sketches how the pair came together and shares experiences from his own childhood on to searching interviews with many articulate insiders, both light-hearted and profound."--Philip and Phylis Morrison

"The Eameses are handsome, they are a couple, they look sexy, smart, and happy. It's almost enough to understand their miracle. They don't create beauty and intelligence, they just transmit what they are. It's easy, coherent. There is a serenity. When they drive a motorcycle, it's to experience balance and the minimum. Every picture gives a clue. They offer us the elegance of their happy rigorness."--Philippe Starck
-- Review

...fascinating personal account of Charles and Ray and associates who made it an atelier of our times ... light-hearted... profound. -- Philip and Phylis Morrison

Eames Demetrios ... has documented his grandparents' life in great detail...enthralling reading for any student of 20th-century creativity. -- Terence Conran

Product Description

The first book to capture the philosophy and spirit behind the work of Charles and Ray Eames, An Eames Primer offers an in-depth look at the couple's prolific legacy--one that has placed them among the most important American designers of the twentieth century. Those who know one or two aspects of the Eameses' work are often surprised to learn just how far and vast their range extended. Yet throughout their myriad works, from architecture and furniture to exhibition and design and filmmaking, their core philosphy prevails. An Eames Primer is the first book to illuminate this seamless connection.

Author Eames Demetrios explores the rich energy of the Eameses' world from a unique perspective, informed by his close relationship with Charles and Ray. He shares personal anecdotes, previously unpublished photos, and his extensive interviews with former friends and colleagues of the Eameses to make connections between the Eameses' influential philosophy and their widely admired work. For those unacquainted with the designers, the stories behind the design process will inform, entertain, and inspire, while readers with an extensive knowledge of the Eameses' work gain a deeper level of understanding their process.

Compact and highly accessible, An Eames Primer is the definitive introduction to the life of this century's most influential designers.
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Universe (February 9, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0789306298
  • ISBN-13: 978-0789306296
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6.5 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #486,111 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Eames Demetrios
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Look Inside This Book
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Way-it-should-be-ness, May 24, 2003
By Mark E. Blunck (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: An Eames Primer (Paperback)
In 1988, filmmaker Eames Demetrios made the film, 901: After 45 Years of Working, a family record of the closing of the Eames Office shortly after the death of Ray. It was an objective attempt to capture the essence of the studio and design work created by Charles and Ray Eames and their multi-talented staff. Now more than ten years later, Demetrios has again recorded the studio and work in the book, An Eames Primer. The modest title implies an introduction and starting point to all the work of his grandparents but it is much more informative. What makes this book essential reading is the personal nature of the writing, connections, and the concept of "design addressing itself to the need."

Much of this personal nature is expressed in the chapter on the life of Charles Eames and Ray Kaiser before their meeting at Cranbrook, including extensive writing on each family history. This early period of their lives is illustrated by several drawings and paintings by Charles and Ray with each piece exhibiting a pleasing combination of color and form that would later become the hallmark of their work.

Demetrios devotes two pages on the issue of the Eameses signing with either Knoll or Herman Miller for the plywood group. This analysis, which isn't really dealt with in other books, is a rational and logical explanation of Charles and Ray's principles and their main concern about simply marketing a "good chair". For anyone interested in this crucial choice the author has formulated an essential case for the decision to go with Herman Miller.

One of the many highlights of the book is a wonderful collection of color photographs of different objects hanging from the ceiling of the Eames House that is pure aesthetic delight. Also, the bottom right corner of each page serves as a flipbook tour of the expansive 901 Studio.

What must have been an amazing event in film exhibition is Glimpses of the USA at the American Pavilion in Moscow in 1959. The seven-screen presentation of life in the United States shows a cultural identity of amazing diversity and Demetrios explains the process behind the production of this film. In an unbelievable set of circumstances, the American government had given Charles and Ray complete freedom to produce this film at the height of the Cold War with no "final cut" approval from Washington. Several pages also describe the production of the two versions of Powers of Ten. These films required experiments in film technology and camera work and Demetrios fully describes the process. The many contributions of staff members and outside consultants are thoroughly explained.

Throughout the book, many former Eames Office members and consultants describe their experience of working in the studio on the amazing variety of projects. Issues of design attribution are commented upon and examined for several projects.

Two days after finishing the book I retrieved Eames Design and several other excellent books and realized that everything now seemed much clearer after reading Primer. Perhaps Demetrios is correct in giving his work that modest title. The clean and clear connection has been analyzed and described so that it all seems so perfectly obvious. This is an informative educational book written in a casual but serious style and a worthy addition to a personal library.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Hate to spoil the party but this book is just ok., April 13, 2008
This review is from: An Eames Primer (Paperback)
Before reading this book I would have found it difficult to believe that I would be able to use the word hyperbole and the Eames Office in the same sentence. The work of the Eames Office remains beyond reproach and this book does offer some genuine insight into its multifaceted work but tends to avoid difficult questions and for the most part gives simple answers.

The book glosses over the realities and complexities of the Eamesian approach to design and the creative atmosphere of the Office. However, I think the title itself makes the authors intent clear. As a "primer" this book fits the bill in terms of the information included. My main criticism is that the author should have followed through and been more concise and direct. This book is verbose and practically glows with the repetitive and nearly-universal fond memories of the individuals interviewed. Worst of all, the prose has the faint sent of re-contextualization and hero worship (hard to avoid for a grandson).

Secondary to the above but still significant is the books poor quality of design and production. I found the book extremely difficult to read. The font and point size selected, compounded by the overly-wide text line length, made for uncomfortable reading. To top it off the paper selected displayed a surface glare that made reading the book all but impossible except in the best light conditions. The design renders it more a pretty-object rather than a functional book. On the other hand it looks good on the shelf... if you want to impress your friends.

If it weren't for the fact that this book is really about as good as any other design book, it would fair far worse. If you couldn't tell, I would recommend getting the book as there is not much out there on the subject thats any better.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Connected to the Work, June 22, 2005
By Tropics Refugee (Middle Fla.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: An Eames Primer (Paperback)
As you might imagine and the title implies this is a wonderful introduction to the work of the Eames' design office. More importantly it is a warm fun filled story of two wonderful and creative human beings who truly sought to make a difference in the world by living with integrity. I feel they succeeded and I think that anyone who reads this little gem will begin to see the connections that weave all life's little mysteries into a comprehensive story .
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Eames Primer---A fascinating peek inside the world of masters of mid-century
I have had the pleasure of visiting the Eames House and the Eames Family (incldg Eames Demetrios--author and grand-son and Lucia --Charles's only child) on the occasion of the... Read more
Published on March 4, 2008 by Peter knockstead

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful history
This is a great insight into the lives of the Eames'. I think many designers (myself included) think we know something of their lives and importance. Read more
Published on February 20, 2006 by grotto35

5.0 out of 5 stars Way-it-should-be-ness
In 1988, filmmaker Eames Demetrios made the film, 901: After 45 Years of Working, a family record of the closing of the Eames Office shortly after the death of Ray. Read more
Published on May 24, 2003 by Mark E. Blunck

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Couple of Designers
Charles and Ray Eames' lives are documented by their grandson in this fascinating collection of anecdotes, photographs, and excerpts. Read more
Published on January 20, 2003 by I. Brynjegard-Bialik

5.0 out of 5 stars An Eames Primer
The Eameses stood as firm as rocks off Venice Beach: they despised fashion and created timeless objects that look as fresh today as when they were first made, up to 60 years ago... Read more
Published on June 14, 2002 by Michael Webb

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