The Twentieth Century Society

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Visual Acoustics: Julius Shulman’s iconic photography of Californian Modernism

07/01/2021

[21/01]

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Image above: The Stahl House also known as Case Study House #22, Pierre Koenig architect, 1960. Photograph by Julius Shulman © J. Paul Getty Trust.

Thursday 7th January 2021, 6.30pm - 8pm

Join us for an evening with author Will Paice, filmmaker Eric Bricker, photography curator Valeria Carullo, Prof Neil Jackson and C20 Society Director Catherine Croft in conversation about the documentary film Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman.

Photographer Shulman’s 1960 image of the Stahl House (Case Study House #22) in LA is considered by TIME Magazine to be one of the 100 most influential photographs of all time.

The panel will discuss what makes Shulman's work so distinctive, why the architecture of Southern California was so influential and why it remains so popular today. They will also explore how Julius compares to other photographers.

The Visual Acoustics film was screened around the world and garnered a number of awards in its festival run including "Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature" at both Palm Springs International Film Festival and Austin Film Festival.

You can watch the trailer of the film here and you will be sent a code offering a 20% discount on the book about the film and Blu-ray disk package in your booking confirmation email. You can also buy the blu-ray film here, or the the blu-ray film and book here (U.K) and here (U.S).

If you do not have a blu-ray player, Xbox or Playstation, you can rent or purchase the film for just £4.99 here.

You can read a review of the film here.

Will Paice is an author, filmmaker, designer and architecture enthusiast with over 20 years in the film and television industries in London and Los Angeles.  In 1997 he moved from London to Hollywood and it was during his time there that he developed his passion for the mid-century architecture of southern California and became involved in the preservation and restoration of landmark properties in LA and Palm Springs. A chance poolside meeting with iconic architectural photographer Julius Shulman brought about Will's involvement in the documentary that Eric was developing and that premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2008.

Eric Bricker is the Director / Producer of the film which was his directorial debut. He has also worked on other feature-length films including ALUMINATION, slated for a summer 2021 release. He is currently working on KILLINGSWORTH, a narrative film based on the life and work of Long Beach, CA architect, Edward Killingsworth.

Valeria Carullo is the Photography Curator at the Royal Institute of British Architects and has been a recurrent speaker at recent C20 virtual events.

Prof Neil Jackson is an architect and architectural historian. Previously the Hoffman Wood Professor of Architectural Engineering at the University of Leeds (2000-2005), he has also taught architecture and architectural history at the University of Nottingham (1990-2000) and at the California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, California (1985-1990). In 2009-11 he was the recipient of a Major Research Fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust and in 2013 was a Guest Scholar at the Getty Conservation Institute in Los Angeles, California. He is currently a Professorial Research Associate in the Japanese Research Centre at SOAS (the School of African and Oriental Studies), University of London. He has published many books on contemporary architecture and Californian architecture, including many of those buildings originally photographed by Shulman.

Members: £3, non-members £5

The Twentieth Century Society is a registered charity, no 1110244.

 


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