The team over at The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity is at it again within their commitment to preserve the legacy of their torchbearers Ray and Charles Eames— perhaps you’ve heard of them?
After launching their “An Eames of Your Own” guide last year via their online magazine Kazam!, The Eames Institute has set its sights on an exciting endeavor through its newly opened headquarters in Richmond, California. You might want to sit down in your Eames Molded Plywood Chair for this one …
The Eames Archives will be open to the public for the first time ever. Starting now, you can purchase tickets for guided tours of The Eames Archives at their newly refurbished Northern California headquarters. This Richmond location will be a permanent space for the public to experience the Eames Collection firsthand. Tours will be given personally by Llisa Demetrios, the chief curator and granddaughter of Ray and Charles Eames.
It’s such a pleasure to expand the reach of the Eames Institute and further share the Collection with even more people.
Llisa Demetrios
“The Eames Archives is so special to me because it holds the things my grandparents loved and cherished—it’s an absolute joy to finally be able to share these pieces in this way,” says Demetrios.
The collection offers an expansive view of Ray and Charles Eames’ practice, including 40,000 artifacts that range from mass-produced furniture designs and unique one-of-a-kind prototypes to personal ephemera and private correspondence. The Eames Institute’s internal teams collaborated with Brooklyn-based designers Standard Issue to create a unique display that enables visitors to experience this material intimately. Much of the collection on view originates from the famed Eames Office at 901 Washington Boulevard in Venice, California.
Some particularly noteworthy items in the Archive include the Airplane Stabilizer (1943), the Plywood Sculpture (1943), the Molded Plywood Seat (1942), and the fake college diploma Saul Steinberg illustrated for Charles, who never completed his architecture degree (1950). In addition to experiencing this collection up close and in person, the space will also offer a behind-the-scenes look at the daily activities performed by the Eames Institute team in pursuit of preserving this cultural legacy.
And, of course, there’s a gift shop! At the end of each tour, guests are encouraged to explore a selection of books, vintage items, and design objects inspired by the Archives’ collection, all available for purchase. Reservations for guided tours of the Archive are available now through eamesinstitute.org. Tours will begin on February 14—the perfect Valentine’s Day date, perhaps?—and will be held on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays by appointment only. Going forward, tickets for the following month will be released on the first of each month.
