Weekendpaper* | Inside the Eames House | New-wave American gallerists | The US museum boom

Bill Prince, editor-in-chief

Welcome to the latest Weekendpaper*, the new Saturday newsletter from the Wallpaper* editors.

On the eve of the United States’ semiquincentennial, the August issue of Wallpaper* magazine – out now – celebrates the country's resilient and rambunctious creative spirit. These are turbulent times for those responsible for its vitality, many of whom are facing threats to their lifestyles and livelihoods. Which is why we have chosen our third annual US Issue to celebrate its culture as an enduring, inspiring force for optimism and change.  

Bringing you a flavour of the issue, in today’s Weekendpaper*, we head to the Pacific Palisades on the eve of the reopening of the Eames House to hear how the designers’ family have launched a new foundation in a bid to keep their grandparents’ mission alive. We also profile a rising generation of young design gallerists who are putting social engagement and community before commerce; and we drop in on a London gallery for a group show of seven female New York-based artists that are taking a philosophical approach to the visceral dimensions of human experience. 

Pick up a copy of the August issue for more.

When wildfires tore through LA’s Pacific Palisades in January, the descendants of Charles and Ray Eames watched in horror as the flames approached their grandparents’ masterpiece, Case Study House #8. ‘We were on the edge of our seats,’ recalls Eames Demetrios. ‘Our sister Lucia, who has led the charge on the conservation of the house, was watching the surveillance cameras and reporting to us. And then they went dark. It was very scary.’

Thanks to efforts to fell hundreds of trees around the property the previous year, and a large stroke of luck, the house was spared any serious damage. It is due to reopen this month, kicking off a new series of events and experiences for visitors – whether they’re Eames enthusiasts, or just along for the ride. Critically, the foundation plans to support community rebuilding efforts and aid in the area’s recovery. Dan Howarth meets the Eameses’ descendants as they explore new ways to preserve the designers’ legacy.

If the idea of a design gallery conjures up images of a whispery white cube filled with plinths and prim collectors clutching their pearls, then it’s time you visited Tiwa Gallery on the fifth floor of a lofty Tribeca building, preferably for one of the opening night dinners courtesy of founder Alex Tieghi-Walker (pictured). You’ll find a similar energy of ‘hugging, gossiping, kids and dogs’ at a Marta opening in Los Feliz, Los Angeles. Further up the Californian coast at Blunk Space in Point Reyes Station, JB Blunk’s daughter Mariah Nielson is keeping her father’s democratic spirit of make, do and blend, alive and thriving. And further north still, at Landdd in Portland, you can consider your collectible investments while participating in a sound bath or some flower arranging.

Shut your eyes and jab a finger at a map of the US and you will likely find a brand new, freshly spruced up or forthcoming art museum within driving distance of your digit. In the Great Plains, there’s the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska, with its sweeping new wing by Snøhetta. Venture south and you’ll encounter the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art in Tennessee, by Herzog & de Meuron. Head to New York and discover the reimagined Frick Collection, overhauled by Selldorf Architects. Go west, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art will soft launch its Peter Zumthor-designed extension this summer, while The Broad is also getting a new 50,000 sq ft addition by Diller Scofidio + Renfro. According to AEA Consulting, which offers strategic services for the cultural sector, around 90 new cultural projects were announced in North America last year alone. ‘The museum sector has been on a long-term building binge,’ says AEA founder Adrian Ellis. This may seem paradoxical, especially for the US, which has been plagued by culture wars and budget cuts, so what is behind the boom? Anna Fixsen investigates museums’ drive to stay relevant.

This scene-stealing pendant, by Brooklyn-based studio Workstead ($12,420), forms part of a new collection, ‘Lantern’, handmade in the American South. Crafted from two subtly inset, mirrored half-domes, joined along the equator and shrouding the light source in raw dupioni silk, the lamp appears to float in space, offering a sculptural, otherworldly presence.