February 8, 2004
Our Inaugural Meeting at the CAF
Our first event was graciously hosted by Bastiaan Bouma at the Chicago Architectural Foundation on February 8, 2004. Presenters included:
Joe Kunkel, owner of jetsetmodern.com, an online publisher and retailer of vintage 20th century design
Joan and Gary Gand, avid collectors of 20th century modern design and Italian glass
Allen Porter, former student of the New Bauhaus/Institute of Design and prominent graphic designer, photographer, and teacher.
Kunkel and the Gands presented an overview of the organization, and Porter described the Architectural Panel, a similar group which was active in Southern California in the 1960s. Porter also gave all attendees a copy of a 1937 issue of Printing Art Quarterly, (courtesy, Bennett Johnson/Chicago Art Deco Society) which includes a seminal article by Moholy-Nagy and a full copy of the first New Bauhaus catalog.
Attendees introduced themselves and described their interests in modernism. Most members stayed long after the program was completed, enjoying social interaction and brainstorming ideas for future events.
As the Gands say, “the mantra ‘Less is More’ may apply to modern design principles, but not to this group’s passion for the acquisition and dissemination of information on all things modern.” Kunkel adds, “a new generation of enthusiasts is researching in libraries; traveling and seeking obscure facts; interviewing architects, designers and their clients; and getting together to celebrate this exciting period of creativity from our recent past.”
