Introduction
In the early days, women were not recognized for their great effort and contribution toward art. Women over the years and through the support of their male counterparts have shown their effort and contributed toward the field of art. The works of many couples have been recognized, and women have played a great role toward this recognition.
Charles and Ray Eames
According to Eliot (p. 27), Charles born in 1907 and Ray Eames 1912 were American modern design. The couple made a great contribution towards furniture making and modern architecture. Charles and Ray were also involved in graphic design and industrial, film and fine art. Therefore, the couple being from different background joined hands and became renown in the art field. Ray being a woman; she was able to become a mirror to the society and many women were guided by a great effort shown by Ray.
Charles in his school days developed a great interest in architecture and engineering, and this he pursued in Washington University. Charles was involved with advocacy work in Wright Lloyd firm where he was later dismissed. He moved to an architecture office, where he concentrated much on his architectural skills. In 1930, Charles made up his mind and started his architectural office, and he began to extend his ideas beyond architecture. He entered into art and later became the head of the art department in Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan.
Ray Kaiser attended New York school of painting where he pursued her talent and interest in fine art. She later moved to Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan to enhance her painting skills. It was in Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan where she met Charles. She assisted Charles in preparing designs that Charles was scheduled to present in the Museum of modern art’s which was famously known as Organic Furniture competition.( McAleer, 2010)
According to Eliot (p. 30), Ray played a great role during Charles and Eore preparation this led to the emerging winners in that competition. Their work that was created by molded plywood bring about a complex curving, ended up bring Charles and his counterpart two prizes. Though Ray was not rewarded or physically recognized, she played a crucial role towards the two awards received by Charles and Eore.
In 1941, Charles and Ray got married and relocated to California where they continued and expanded their work of furniture design using molded plywood. Through their effort, they were called up by the United States Navy where they designed for them different kind of items using their design that was molding plywood.
With regards to Rago (p. 43), Charles and Ray were later able to showcase they design and art works where Evans Products began using their designs to make the furniture they sold in their firm. Ray was able to convince Charles to adopt love for art where the two grew in the art each day. They were able to design different type of furniture using molding plywood. They kept growing, and many well-established companies came looking for them because of their unique designs.
In the early days, if one mentioned of Charles and Ray Eames especially in a design shop all you would get was a blank look. These days when you mention about the prolific couple, all you get it handful of furniture and other designs. They are renowned far and wide, and their design works are spread all over the world. With a great feeling of undertaking, Charles and Ray Eames transformed their interest and vast energy into manifestations that made them as a positively extraordinary spouse and-wife configuration group. Their exceptional collaboration prompted an entire new look in furniture.
Charles and Ray, popularly known as the Eames became very successful because of their similar way of approaching each and every idea they had in mind (Rago, p. 42). They shared every idea and explored it together bringing about a very industrious couple in Charles and Rays. Charles influenced Charles positively and the vise verse also happened. Charles was influenced in a way he became a lover of design and fine art, and Ray was influenced to love architecture.
According to Alexander (p. 36), the walk to fame by both Charles and Ray was not easy but together they were able to change the society through art. Women through Ray started combining their effort with their men ending up to a society where women become more respected in the art of designing and other areas.
According to Alexander (p. 38), Charles became famous in his early days when he was in the university. He was able to take up a step forward and introduce the ‘molding plywood’ which earned him great recognition. Both Charles and Ray became famous when they got married since the society was able to see their combined contribution in what they were designing. In these modern days, both Charles and Ray remain in the minds of many furniture designers for the mark they left in the art industry.
Conclusion
Charles and Ray Eames have proven that each and every person has a role and objective to play in a relationship. They put their minds together and became one of the famous couples in the field of art. Charles and ray did not only involve themselves with furniture making, but they were involved in every aspect of art.
References
Alexandra Griffith Winton. Charles Eames (1907–78) and Ray Eames (1912–88). The MetropolitanMuseum of Art. Accessed 12 December 2007.
Eliot F. Noyes. Organic Design in Home Furnishings. Museum of Modern Art. 1941.
McAleer, Margaret. "CHARLES AND RAY EAMES: A Register of Their Papers in the Library of Congress". Retrieved May 2010.
Rago, David and John Sollo. Collecting Modern: a guide to mid-century furniture and collectibles. Gibbs Smith, 2001.
