My criteria for the perfect desk was: 1) clean, modern lines; 2) at least one drawer, 3) a surface area that can accommodate my laptop and external monitor; 4) less than $500; and 5) eco-friendly. I decided to go with mid century modern “inspired” desk and found this one from West Elm. It’s called “Pratt Desk.”

West Elm Pratt Desk in Walnut/White

To my surprise, the Pratt Desk meets all of my five criteria. This desk with clean, modern lines measures 48” (width) by 30” (depth) and has a white powder-coated steel storage drawer. The desktop and legs feature FSC certified materials. It is priced at $299. There are two color choices: walnut/white and white. I ordered the walnut/white one.

West Elm Pratt Desk in White

The desk was designed in collaboration between West Elm and the students from Brooklyn based Pratt Institute. It is a part of the Pratt home office collection that also includes a file cabinet, chair, an LED lamp, and wall accessories. Kudos to the design team for designing such a stylish and eco-friendly collection!

West Elm Pratt Home Office Collection

The Atomic Age collection features six patterns: Atomic Doodle, Boingo, Gee Gee, Googieland, Interlock and Island.

Atomic Doodle pattern is available in pink, taupe, and turquoise.

Atomic Doodle Pattern

Gee Gee patter is available in bisque, gray, and sage.

Gee Gee Pattern

Googieland pattern is available in gray, ivory, sage, and turquoise.

Googieland Pattern

Interlock pattern is available in gray, silver, and sage.

Interlock Pattern

Visit Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers website and check out these incredible wallpapers yourself. You can order 8.5″ X 11″ samples for $1.00 each for color matching. Their wallpapers are handprinted by the silk screen method. They are sold by the single roll and each roll contains 30 sq. ft. (roll dimensions: 27″ x 15′). Each roll cost between $58.00 and $72.00, depending on the pattern.

The Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2010, showcasing 15 mid century modern residential and commercial buildings built between 1945 and 1970 in the South Land Park and adjacent neighborhoods of Sacramento. Tour participants are invited to visit the interior spaces of structures designed by architects and designers including: Jones + Emmons for Eichler Homes, Carter Sparks, Donald Thaden, George Muraki, designer George W. Haggett, designer Robert N. Hill, Rickey + Brooks, Bucky H. Fong, Herbert Y. Niiya, Albert Dreyfuss, Sooky Lee, Dean Unger, Harry J. Devine, Grant Caywood, and William Koblik.

In order to join the Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour, you will need to register at the Sacramento Executive Airport, a wonderful mid century modern building designed by renown Sacramento architect Leonard F. Starks. There will also be mid century modern related interpretive materials on display at this location. So be sure to check them out!

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Shorter Center South, who provides classes in a studio setting, taught by artists working in their own disciplines, for people with developmental disabilities.

Event Summary

What: Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour

When: Saturday, June 26, 2010 – Registration begins at 9:00 am at the Sacramento Executive Airport at 6151 Freeport Boulevard. Participants will receive tour guidebooks upon check-in. Homes will be open to visitors from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Where: The Land Park and South Land Park neighborhoods of Sacramento (easily accessible from the I-5, I-80, US-50, and CA-99).

Cost: Tickets are $20 if purchased in advance, $25 if purchased the day of the tour. Tickets can be purchased online via PayPal at SacMCMHomeTour.blogspot.com, or with cash or check at the following locations: Capital Nursery, Parkside Pharmacy and Blomberg Windows.

More Information: Visit website or email SacMCMHomeTour@gmail.com.

Rejuvenation is sponsoring an event called “Mid-Century Modern and the Recent Past: Documentation and Preservation” at the Architectural Heritage Center on June 19th, 2010. The Architectural Heritage Center is a non-profit resource center for historic preservation, located in Portland, Oregon.

Event Summary
What: Mid-Century Modern and the Recent Past: Documentation and Preservation
When: Saturday, June 19, 2010 10:00 am–4:00 pm
Where: Portland, Oregon
Cost: $20, includes Lunch
More Information: Visit website or call (503)231-7264

Elroy Artspace Gallery in Portland, Oregon is featuring Shipwrecks of Sparta, a solo exhibition of new works by George Perrou. In the artistʼs first solo exhibition at the gallery, Shipwrecks of Sparta, Perrou builds upon the creative variation marked in his 2009 small piece series – when he introduced “distressed” backgrounds to his popular “modscapes” and unique atomic-age images.

Shipwrecks of Sparta Show

George Perrouʼs art is inspired by mid-century animation, and gives nods to Miro, Kandinsky and Calder. Perrou’s is a style all his own, painting colorful abstractions of reality onto the canvas using retro and modern colors in acrylic. George lives and paints in the creative epicenter of Portland, Oregon.

George Perrou

Event Summary
What: George Perrou “Shipwrecks of Sparta” Solo Exhibition
When: June 3 through June 26, 2010, Opening Reception – Thursday, June 3, 6-9pm
Where: Elroy Artspace Gallery, 1720 NW Lovejoy #103 (Pearl District), Portland, Oregon 97209
More Information: Call Elroy Art Agency at 503-609-0509

Specs:

• 36, 1.75″ (4.5 cm) square Alphabet Blocks (20 for the house, 16 for the studio)
• House 8.75″ x 3.5″ x 3.5″ (22 cm x 8.9 cm x 8.9 cm)
• Studio 7″ x 3.5″ x 3.5″ (17.8 cm x 8.9 cm x 8.9 cm)
• Made in the USA with replenishable Michigan-grown, kiln-dried basswood
• Printed with non-toxic, lead-free, child-safe inks

Thinking about buying Herman Miller products? Starting June 4th, 2010 and continuing through June 14th, 2010, all Herman Miller for The Home products including the work of Eames, Nelson, Noguchi and others are 15% off at many retailers.

Plan ahead and take advantage of this semi-annual sale. Some products are customizable and you can order free swatches at a retailer like SmartFurniture.com.

Also, if you register at Ebates.com and follow their link when shopping, you may be eligible for extra cash back – find out how here: I can’t guarantee cash back for all items, but it won’t hurt to try I am a member of Ebates since 2001 and earned $271.19 in cash back! For example, you get 3% cash back shopping at Design Within Reach using Ebates.

Museum Entrance Area

The Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum Japan preserves 150 sculptures, including many unfinished works. The most unfinished sculptures are located outdoor atelier, inside of the stone circle. The place does not feel like an ordinary museum – there are no name tags on any of individual works. The working atmosphere of Noguchi’s studio is very well preserved that it almost feels like you can expect to see Noguchi himself to walk up at any time.

The Stone Circle

The indoor sculpture space called “Display Kura” outside of the stone circle contains Noguchi’s sculptures including the Energy Void (1972). The building was originally a sake warehouse from the1880s. It was relocated to this location to house his sculptures, keeping them away from the weather.

The Isamu Ya (Noguchi residence) is located across from his studio. The house is a traditional Japanese style house from the 1760s. Although Noguchi adored the traditional architecture of this house, he enjoyed modern conveniences as well – heated tatami floors! The visitors can only view the interior from the entrance and through the windows. The house is uncluttered and has little furnishing.

The Noguchi House behind the sculpture on the right

There is the Sculpture Garden on the hill behind the Isamu Ya. The view from the hill was magnificent. I could just sit and enjoy the view for hours and hours. Noguchi described this garden as “a song of praise to nature.” He said, “It is a wonderful place to be at, almost anytime… Nature rampant. Then I take a snooze. And a friend comes to visit.”

The Museum Shop

The day I visited the museum was cold and rainy. There were about 17 people in my tour group and many were complaining about the unfortunate weather situation. I thought the rain was nice, giving the outdoor sculptures a soft feeling and different expressions that can only be seen when the stones were wet. I really enjoyed the rustic scenery where everything was so quite, away from the city disruptions. After everyone had left, I went back a little street towards the studio, just to enjoy the quietness. I closed my eyes and listened the rainfall, imaging the sound of Noguchi working on his sculpture echoing among the hills.

Kouros (1944-1945)

Noguchi returned to the United States in 1918 for schooling. He later enrolled in Columbia University to study medicine, while at the same time taking sculpture classes at Leonardo da Vinci Art School. It did not take too long for Noguchi to realize his true calling was art, not medicine. He left Columbia to pursue sculpture full time. In 1927, Noguchi left for Paris on a Guggenheim Memorial Fund Fellowship and worked with a sculptor, Constantin Brancusi. He then traveled through Europe and Asia and finally returned to New York City in 1929. In New York, Noguchi earned recognition with his portrait sculpture. Noguchi’s artistic career spanned from then to next 60 decades. He was known for his sculpture, public works, stage set designs, furniture, and light fixtures.

Red Cube in NYC

For mid century modern design enthusiasts like us, Noguchi is most well known for his furniture and interior designs. Noguchi designed his first table in 1939, a commission for A. Conger Goodyear, the president of the Museum of Modern Art. This glass top table with rosewood supports was the first of a series of related designs. His revised table design was used to illustrate George Nelson’s article entitled “How to Make a Table.” The table was put in production by Herman Miller between 1947 and 1973. This “Isamu Noguchi Coffee Table” became one of his most well known works and was reissued by Herman Miller in 1984. In addition to the famous coffee table, Noguchi designed other furniture pieces and light fixtures such as Cyclone Tables, Rocking Stools, Cylinder Lamp, a series of Akari lamps etc.

Isamu Noguchi Coffee Table

Today, Noguchi’s notable works are seen in many parts of the world and at the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City in New York and the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum Japan in Mure, Japan.