The Eames Response

First, of all, Ray and Charles Eames seem like the perfect couple for each other. Just the fact that they both found something that they love to do and could share that with each other is a beautiful site to see. Having fun with what you do and truly enjoying every second of it is something I believe many people miss out on today with concerns about financially providing for one’s household. Working with or for the Eameses seems like the perfect environment for the creative mind. The lack of routine in the day to day “office” activities seems like another aspect of the Eames office that is desirable for one’s career today. I love Charles's determination in creating the perfect chair. It portrays the hard work and commitment that is required for designers may need in order to truly accomplish the goals they set out for them. Their love story and completion of the chair also raises the question of separating one’s work and their personal life. Knowing that Charles was already married and left his wife and daughter for another woman in order to continue on his journey of creating the perfect chair may be questionable to some. Can one separate these two in this case? I would have loved to the the bridge house to be built. I believe it would have been a beautiful work of architecture. The lack of raw materials due to war efforts came in the way of the process. However, what came of this is was something beautiful: the Eames house. The Eames house was is a perfect example of letting your personality be reflected in your art. This house is truly a work of art. They put their own personal touch on their living space, which not many people have the opportunity of doing. The walls, the ceilings, the floors, and the furniture were not seen as structures of a typical house. It was a canvas for them to do as they please. I also love how they were inspired by everyday things. The circus was an inspiration for Charles in his creation for the environment he wanted to create in the workplace. Certain shapes and objects provided for inspiration for his films and design. I believe his thought process and speech has a relationship with not only the designer he was, but the person he was. He was all over the place and so were his pieces. But it was him. It was unique to him and I believe that’s what separates him from many others. He was never boxed in by what is usual or accepted. His thoughts flow the way he wanted and his art flowed the way he wanted. Whatever he liked, he went with. Whatever he liked, he valued. Other people did not understand him or saw what he did as clutter. People like Franklin and Jefferson criticized him, most likely for being different. No matter how much you love what you do, criticism hurt. His death hurt the people who loved him even more. To some, it was expected. He just seemed to not be as happy as he once was with doing what he did. His death left a void in the lives of the people he worked with. This left an opportunity for Ray to step up and take over the office. This did not last too long. I assume the hurt from the death of her husband made it hurt a little too much to take over his responsibilities. Ray eventually carved her own path and became a beacon of light for other female designers. The artifact that pealed my interest was “The Coloring Toy.” The Eames Office initially produced this toy in the mid to late 1950’s and reintroduced it in 2017. This idea developed from another to the toy masks that they designed. The toy consists of card-stock, coloring crayons, and butterfly clips. It allows for kids and adults to let their creative juices to flow. The design behind this toy shows the Eameses’ interest in shapes and objects as building blocks for creativity and artistry.