Action/Reaction: Biennial of California Design at PMCA Opens With Splashy Party

How does one encapsulate the last two years of California Design? How does one even determine what is California Design, especially in a global market, on and offline? It’s an…

How does one encapsulate the last two years of California Design? How does one even determine what is California Design, especially in a global market, on and offline? It’s an elusive challenge but one taken on by the Pasadena Museum of California Art. The show opened with a party worthy of a Chelsea art opening, as seen in photos, here, by Nicholas Mercure.

The installation was designed by Sergio Gomez, and five curators chose the exhibits, each handling different design disciplines (Rose Apodaca: fashion; Alissa Walker: products; Louise Sandhaus: graphics; Stewart Reed: transportation; and yours truly: architecture) and it is subtitled Action/Reaction, with the goal being to find architecture and design that has been transformative in response to the economic and environmental challenges of our times. If this sounds too earnest, rest assured the designs are gorgeous as well. Brooke Hodge reviews it for the NYT here, and tonight the show opens with a party hosted by KCRW’s very own Mario Cotto and tomorrow the show opens to the public, through October 31. And on Tuesday’s DnA, I’ll talk to Rose, Alissa and Stewart about their choices, and we’ll hear from David Hertz, designer of one of the buildings on display, the 747 Wing House, which, yes, is made of a deconstructed Boeing 747.