Modernism: Born in California | Environmental Design Archives Exhibition
Modernism: Born in California features works made throughout the long careers of architects Ernest and Esther Born, from their time as architecture students at UC Berkeley Architecture in the 1920s through the days of urban renewal in the 1960s. Through their photography, architectural work, curatorial activities, and graphic design, the Borns visualized and framed the new “look” of a world dramatically changed by the economic and social disruptions of modernization in the early decades of the 20th century. Although the Borns ultimately built very little, their influence on the image of Northern California “modernism” is outsized.
ABOUT
-
Ernest Alexander BornErnest Alexander Born (1898–1992) was born in San Francisco and graduated from UC Berkeley with honors in architecture, civil engineering, and graphic arts in 1922 and a Master of Architecture in 1923. An accomplished artist and illustrator as well as architect, Born designed exhibits, murals, advertising material, furniture, and books, and rendered designs for other firms. He designed the Glen Park and Balboa Park BART stations and drafted the signage for all 33 BART stations. He was a member of the faculty at the UC Berkeley School of Architecture from 1951-1958 and 1962-1974. His final project was as illustrator and co-author of both The Plan of St. Gall and The Barns of the Abbey of Beaulieu with Walter Horn.
-
Esther Baum BornEsther Baum Born (1902–1987) was born in Palo Alto and graduated from UC Berkeley in 1926. She married Ernest Born that same year, after which they traveled extensively before relocating to New York. While there, she worked as a draftsman and attended graduate classes at Columbia. She also studied photography with theater photographer and gallerist Ben Rabinovitch. Within a year she had a solo show at Rabinovitch’s gallery that garnered flattering reviews, as did one the following year in 1934. She continued to work successfully as a photographer throughout her life. She and Ernest established a graphics, mural and design practice beginning a life-long partnership. Often, they would visit sites that Esther would photograph and Ernest would draw. At other times, Esther would photograph Ernest’s architecture and design projects. Her career included other types of photographs, as well as work for other architects.
The exhibition is free and open to the public during Environmental Design Library hours.
If you require accommodations to attend this event, contact betsyfr@berkeley.edu at least 10 days in advance of your visit.