For centuries red winged blackbirds
have inhabited the Sonoma marshlands bordering
The Royal Highway-
EL CAMINO REAL
The road that was to connect all the missions of California
in the early 18th century
In 1906, almost 200 years after the first mission was built,
bell markers were placed along the
the road side to commemorate
The King's Road
A bell marker on my way through Sonoma
EL CAMINO REAL
The road that was to connect all the missions of California
in the early 18th century
In 1906, almost 200 years after the first mission was built,
bell markers were placed along the
the road side to commemorate
The King's Road
A bell marker on my way through Sonoma
FRA JUNIPERRO SERRA
1713-1784
Serra, a driving force in the
Spanish conquest of California
was intent on converting the native Indians to christianity,
save their souls and insure their loyalty to Spain
Fra Junipero's intentions were supposedly noble
even if perhaps misguided
The Franciscan friar trekked mostly on foot along
"The King's Highway"
establishing the first nine
of the 21 California missions
Built one day's journey apart
along
The El Camino Real
THE MISSION SAN DIEGO
The First Mission
Buildings born of the amateurish abilities of the natives,
employing materials readily available in ALTO CALIFORNIA
reflect simplified references to Spanish and Mexican
architecture with no emphasis on refinements or decoration
Thick adobe brick walls
whitewashed for waterproofing,
covered walkways ,
protecting inhabitants from rain and sun
Mission San Miguel
THE MISSION SONOMA
the last of the California Missions
The missions were also built in hopes of stopping further
Russian infiltration into California.
The adobe structures employed little timber
in stark contrast to the wooden structures built by the
Russians
FORT ROSS
Established as a Russian fur trading outpost
just 30 miles north of the Mission at Sonoma
The Russian trappers made use of local timber
but design refered back to the architecture in Russia
A covered second story porch and a wood roof on a Fort Ross house
Russian advancement was curtailed but even their small foothold
left an imprint on future architecture.
Mission Revival Architecture
Homes, churches and public buildings
built in the early 20th century inspired by
the Spanish missions
Built by Thomas Larkin in 1834 in Monterrey, California
(just 5 miles north of the Carmel Mission) Larkin House was the first
example of Monterrey Colonial architecture
,+Monterey,+Monterey+County,+CA+3.jpg)
CASA BONIFACIO
CASA AMESTI
Jose Amesti built a Monterrey Colonial house in the 1830's
Constructed of adobe and wood with a wood shake roof
the building was in a sad state of ruin
by the time Frances Elkins and her husband
purchased it in 1918 for $5,000.00
FRANCES ADLER ELKINS
1888-1953
A leading visionary of 20th century interior design
Frances recognized the beauty and potential of the house
Such projects as the restoration of Casa Amesti are not for the faint of heart
Friends were horrified that anyone would take on such a disaster
The marriage did not survive the remodel and restoration
Elkins was assisted by her brother,
the already well established architect
DAVID ADLER
1882-1949
INTERIOR DESIGN-FRANCES ELKINS
Crumbling walls were restored and re plastered
Dentil moldings and door surrounds were added
Elkins decorated mixing styles and periods
in a way no one had before her
Her career as one of the most important decorators
of the twentieth century was launched
and a design legend was born
Between the World Wars
the brother and sister from Milwaukee, Wisconsin traveled
through Europe together
There Frances met and recognized the talents of Jean-Michel Frank
and Alberto Giacometti.
bringing back their creations for use in her projects
INTERIOR DESIGN-FRANCES ELKINS
A timeless library with Jean -Michel Frank furniture
Jean -Michel Frank dressing table
JEAN-MICHEL FRANK
1895-1941
While teaching at the Parsons Paris School of Art and Design
Frank assigned his students the project to
"design a table so basic that it would retain its
integrity whether sheathed in gold leaf ...
or burlap..."
THE PARSONS TABLE
attributed to Jean-Michel Frank
(believed to have actually been designed by the school janitor)
Sensing the dangerous situation in Europe
Frank left France in 1939 and went to Argentina
(unlike his less fortunate cousin , diary writer Anne Frank)
His single most important design job remains
exactly as he created it for the Born family of Buenos Aires
Frank also worked in New York designing the interiors of
the Fifth Avenue apartment of Nelson Rockefeller
Giacometti lamps and Jean-Michel Frank tables
are right at home today in the apartment of Mark and Renee Rockefeller
(members of the lucky gene club)
Jean-Michel was not so fortunate in the gene department.
Though he had escaped the Nazis he was not able to escape
his father's suicidal legacy.
His work and that of his collaborator, Giacometti live on
"Tete de Femme"
Bronze floor lamp
ALBERTO GIACOMETTI
Timeless design defies the passage of time
along
The El Camino Real
THE MISSION SAN DIEGO
The First Mission
employing materials readily available in ALTO CALIFORNIA
reflect simplified references to Spanish and Mexican
architecture with no emphasis on refinements or decoration
whitewashed for waterproofing,
covered walkways ,
protecting inhabitants from rain and sun
Mission San Miguel
the last of the California Missions
The missions were also built in hopes of stopping further
Russian infiltration into California.
The adobe structures employed little timber
in stark contrast to the wooden structures built by the
Russians
Established as a Russian fur trading outpost
just 30 miles north of the Mission at Sonoma
but design refered back to the architecture in Russia
Russian advancement was curtailed but even their small foothold
left an imprint on future architecture.
Nothing new under the California sun
Mission Revival Architecture
Homes, churches and public buildings
built in the early 20th century inspired by
the Spanish missions
By the 1830's Anglo stylistic traditions had also
infiltrated California from the east coast .
The use of wood so readily available was incorporated
The use of wood so readily available was incorporated
THE LARKIN HOUSE
American ,Mexican, and Russian influences came together
in a poignantly California style exemplified by the Monterrey Colonial
with it's wrap around porches.
American ,Mexican, and Russian influences came together
in a poignantly California style exemplified by the Monterrey Colonial
with it's wrap around porches.
(just 5 miles north of the Carmel Mission) Larkin House was the first
example of Monterrey Colonial architecture
,+Monterey,+Monterey+County,+CA+3.jpg)
Others followed but interestingly the
style has never achieved
wide national popularity
Jose Amesti built a Monterrey Colonial house in the 1830's
Constructed of adobe and wood with a wood shake roof
the building was in a sad state of ruin
by the time Frances Elkins and her husband
purchased it in 1918 for $5,000.00
FRANCES ADLER ELKINS
1888-1953
A leading visionary of 20th century interior design
Frances recognized the beauty and potential of the house
Such projects as the restoration of Casa Amesti are not for the faint of heart
Friends were horrified that anyone would take on such a disaster
The marriage did not survive the remodel and restoration
the already well established architect
1882-1949
INTERIOR DESIGN-FRANCES ELKINS
Crumbling walls were restored and re plastered
Dentil moldings and door surrounds were added
A Bold and Daring Visionary
in a way no one had before her
Her career as one of the most important decorators
of the twentieth century was launched
and a design legend was born
Between the World Wars
the brother and sister from Milwaukee, Wisconsin traveled
through Europe together
There Frances met and recognized the talents of Jean-Michel Frank
and Alberto Giacometti.
bringing back their creations for use in her projects
INTERIOR DESIGN-FRANCES ELKINS
A timeless library with Jean -Michel Frank furniture
INTERIOR DESIGN-FRANCES ELKINS
Ladies Dressing Room- Lake Forest , IllinoisJean -Michel Frank dressing table
Her own design for The Loop Chair
has become iconic
1895-1941
Frank's dressing table designed
for Hermes and used by Elkins in the image above
was re-introduced by Hermes in 2011
While teaching at the Parsons Paris School of Art and Design
Frank assigned his students the project to
"design a table so basic that it would retain its
integrity whether sheathed in gold leaf ...
or burlap..."
attributed to Jean-Michel Frank
(believed to have actually been designed by the school janitor)
Frank left France in 1939 and went to Argentina
(unlike his less fortunate cousin , diary writer Anne Frank)
His single most important design job remains
exactly as he created it for the Born family of Buenos Aires
Frank also worked in New York designing the interiors of
the Fifth Avenue apartment of Nelson Rockefeller
Giacometti lamps and Jean-Michel Frank tables
are right at home today in the apartment of Mark and Renee Rockefeller
(members of the lucky gene club)
Jean-Michel was not so fortunate in the gene department.
Though he had escaped the Nazis he was not able to escape
his father's suicidal legacy.
His work and that of his collaborator, Giacometti live on
"Tete de Femme"
Bronze floor lamp
ALBERTO GIACOMETTI
A Pair of White Plaster Lamps
by
ALBERTO GIACOMETTI
for
Jean-Michel Frank
Timeless design defies the passage of time
California Dreamin'
Strongly influenced by Frances Elkins' mixing of style
as well as her love of clean lines
as well as her love of clean lines
MICHAEL TAYLOR
1927-1986
became a design legend in his own right
Always a true original even when inspired by other greats
INTERIOR DESIGN-MICHAEL TAYLOR
Creator of
"The California Look"
ALAS
Inspiration does not always inspire the best
The Fabulous Fifties....
really ??????
and kings
have mushroomed along
EL CAMINO REAL
which bares little resemblance to
the road of kings trekked by Fra Junipero Serra
300 years ago
America has experienced many cultural changes
making freezing meats and vegetables possible
and supposedly liberating the American woman
HO HO HO
GREEN GIANT
was the marketing campaign
making fortunes for the frozen vegetable industry
Another California dreamer,
visionary and missionary
The pioneer of California Cuisinevisionary and missionary
ALICE WATERS
Alice Waters 1971
Chez Panisse
after having studied abroad and experiencing a different wayof dining on fresh, seasonal, and locally grown ingredients
Fast food chains didn't exist in Europe when Alice
visited France in the 1960's.
Like Julia Childe before her
visited France in the 1960's.
Like Julia Childe before her
Alice fell in love with the flavors of foods
prepared with fresh local ingredients .
What a concept ????
but in fact it was a whole new way of thinking in America
Her missionary position was not to teach America to cook well
but rather to teach America how to eat well
prepared with fresh local ingredients .
What a concept ????
but in fact it was a whole new way of thinking in America
Her missionary position was not to teach America to cook well
but rather to teach America how to eat well
Serving only the best and freshest ingredient
she sought out local growers and worked with them
to grow foods without pesticides and herbicides
creating the
SLOW FOOD MOVEMENT
Chez Panisse has been consistently voted one of the world's
top fifty restaurants
and continues to enjoy that standing after 44years-
top fifty restaurants
and continues to enjoy that standing after 44years-
an amazing accomplishment.
at
SHED-HEALDSBURG
and serving of artisenal cheeses
is all a result of Alice Waters' mission
Her vision has inspired chefs across America and the world
She is truly
" THE GREEN GIANT"
Mission Accomplished
Rela