The 3rd annual Palm Springs Modernism show & sale drew record crowds to the Palm Springs Convention Center on March 7-g, 2003. A wide range of vintage 20th century furniture and decorative arts was presented by 75 exhibitors, many from California, but some who came from as far away as New York, Detroit, Dallas, Miami, and Montreal. High quality mid-Century furniture was the preference of many dealers and collectors, but the show also included a small but excellent representation of Mission, California pottery, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, streamline, Art Moderne and contemporary. A few select dealers offering vintage designer clothing and antique estate jewelry completed the impressive presentation.
An opening party on Friday evening benefiting the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation attracted 600 guests who paid $50 each to shop the show early. They also had a chance to meet the artist Shag, who was signing his limited edition serigraph "Palm Springs Modern," or a book signing by noted architectural photographer Julius Schulman.The weekend also offered lectures by California historian Tony Merschal on "Mid-Century Modern Palm Springs," and noted furniture designer Charles Hollis Jones on "Mid-Century Furniture Design Trends." A Saturday evening cocktail party at the famed 1930s "Ship of the Desert" home recently restored by fashion designer Trina Turk and her husband benefited the Palm Springs Modernism Committee, and offered a dramatic starlight view of the Coachella Valley. An organized open-house tour of mid-century properties for sale in some vintage Palm Springs neighborhoods rounded out the weekend on Sunday.
Jacques Caussin, a longtime modernism dealer and organizer of the Miami Modernism Show, and Bob Smith & Dolphin Promotions, Inc., organizers of antique shows in Chicago, Miami, Cleveland, Fort Lauderdale, Naples, and Sarasota, joined forces to launch Palm Springs Modernism in 2001. They have also teamed with DAADS, to produce Great Lakes Modernism, which will celebrate its 2nd year at the Southfield Civic Center in Michigan on October 17-19, 2003.
A new date has been set for the 4th annual Palm Springs Modernism show, which will be held February 13-15, 2004. The show had previously been scheduled for March 7-g, but was moved to the President's Birthday holiday weekend to more easily accommodate dealers and collectors who must travel long distances to participate. For more information, please visit or call Jacques Caussin at 248-613-8388 or Dolphin Promotions at 954-563-6747.
