Curating Modernism: A bonus screening of this documentary which premiered this year at Modernism Week on February 13. Run time 30 min.

20th century Modern architecture in the United States is increasingly at risk. While preservation efforts often focus on 18th and 19th century landmarks, modernist structures are too frequently dismissed as disposable, sometimes due to their modest scale. As a result, many architecturally significant examples have been demolished for redevelopment or altered beyond recognition.

Why should Modern architecture be preserved, and how can this be achieved while balancing the functional demands of contemporary life? These urgent questions are at the heart of this new documentary.

American Look: This 1958 promotional film highlights the Chevrolet automobile line as a showcase of American industrial design and style. It features modern architecture, interiors, packaging, office equipment, and industrial machines, ending with a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the 1959 Chevrolet Impala at General Motors’ Technical Center in Warren, Michigan.

The film emphasizes the abundance of consumer goods and the role of design in offering people freedom of choice. American Look originally premiered at the 1958 American Society of Industrial Designers conference.

This screening is a meticulously remastered version, sourcing film elements from the collections of Mainspring Archive and the Library of Congress. Runtime: 28 minutes

Jake Gorst is an Award-winning documentary filmmaker, writer and president of Mainspring Narrative Films.

https://mainspringnarrative.org