Modernism Week announced that it has added some exciting new events to its robust festival that will be offered to the public in February. These events include several new programs at The Shag House, new tours, new live entertainment options, new art-related events, and much more. The popular annual 11-day festival, which takes place February 15-25, 2024, will feature more than 350 events including the Palm Springs Modernism Show, tours of iconic homes in more than 35 neighborhoods and communities, walking tours, and nightly parties. Also offered are a range of architectural double-decker bus tours, several fashion-related events, tours of the historic Annenberg Estate at Sunnylands, a classic car show, landscape talks and garden tours, walking and biking tours, and a series of compelling and informative talks with world-class speakers. All events are open to the public and tickets are on sale now at modernismweek.com. Some events sell out quickly due to limited capacity and high demand.
These newly added events include:
The Modernism Week Featured Home The Shag House will offer many events including parties and fashion-related events these include:
Swinging Mid Mod Cocktail Party: At The Shag House (2/21, $250) The Shag House will host a swinging cocktail party that will feature classic cocktails, retro-inspired bites, and swank tunes.
The Mammoth Martini Party at The Shag House (2/23, $125) Join the artist Shag for a swinging Mammoth Martini Party at The Shag House featuring vintage music, mid mod-inspired bites, and retro cocktails including master-crafted martinis.
Three fashion-related events will take place at the Shag House:
Poolside Fashion at The Shag House: The Style of Candice Held (2/22, $95)
Mix and mingle with other modernists during this afternoon poolside soirée that will celebrate the fashion of Candice Held, the inspired creative behind her eponymous luxury brand of original textiles.
Poolside Fashion at The Shag House: The History of the Caftan (2/21, $125)
This poolside celebration will reveal the history of the caftan as a staple of midcentury fashion, which started in 1963 when Vogue Editor Diana Vreeland declared the garment “fashionable for the beautiful people.”
Poolside Fashion at The Shag House: The Style of Trina Turk (2/20, $95) At this afternoon poolside soirée, attendees will be able to meet the stylists from Trina Turk and Mr. Turk while enjoying fun tunes, sparkling beverages, and gourmet canapés.
Additional new Shag-related events include:
Shag’s February Modernism Print Release Party (2/17 and 2/24, free) Join artist Shag for a print release party of his new “Desert Bloom” print at The Shag Store. The always-popular event features complimentary cocktails, live music, and other fun surprises.
Meet and Greet with Shag (2/18 and 2/25, free) Meet and greet Shag at the Shag Store, and have your favorite Shag items signed by the artist himself.
New live entertainment events include:
“Swingin’ The Disney Songbook” with Matt Johnson and The New Jet Set, Featuring Adryon de León (2/21, $35 and $50) “Swingin’ The Disney Songbook” is an evening of retro-cool jazz interpretations of beloved songs from Disney’s animated films. Featuring a world-class quartet that combines virtuosic musicianship and charismatic personalities punctuated by delightful movie images and period footage, this performance is a dynamic tour-de-force of musical style and taste.
1963: A Tribute to the Music of an Unforgettable Year (2/19, 2/20, $165)
In this new show, multi-award-winning singer Tod Macofsky pays tribute to the year of his birth through the unforgettable songs that shaped his youth and the events that changed the world. He will be backed by the Gand Band, voted Best Local Band in the Coachella Valley four years in a row. Chef Dave of PS Underground will tantalize the taste buds with a three-course meal inspired by the year 1963 updated with a cool, contemporary twist. Classic cocktails will flow freely from the fully hosted bar and the wine glasses will never go empty.
New tours include:
Marrakesh Country Club: John Elgin Woolf’s Desert Masterpiece (2/21, $200)
Celebrate the beauty and magic of Marrakesh Country Club, the desert’s largest and best-preserved modern Hollywood Regency community, designed by legendary architect John Elgin Woolf.
Indian Wells Signature Home Walking Tour: The Iconic Indian Wells Country Club
(2/23, $125) This guided walking tour inside the gates at Indian Wells Country Club includes four special signature home interiors and a lunch on the patio at The Cove Restaurant.
Poolside at the historic Casa Cody Hotel (2/19, $50) Hotel Casa Cody is the oldest operating hotel in Palm Springs and has recently been thoughtfully remodeled by Casetta Group. This new tour offers a unique behind-the-scenes opportunity to view this historic property and enjoy a delectable brunch featuring bites and signature cocktails utilizing fresh ingredients from the property’s edible garden.
An Evening Soirée at Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms Estate (2/16, $500) Kick off Modernism Week at the Twin Palms Estate, the former residence of Frank Sinatra that put the desert on the map as a celebrity enclave. Designed by E. Stewart Williams in 1947, this historic property will be the location for a festive fundraising soirée that will help support preservation efforts and initiatives of Save Iconic Architecture. Join hosts and Save Iconic Architecture (SIA) founders Jaime Rummerfield and Ron Woodson for an exclusive tour of Twin Palms and along with luminaries, influencers, and tastemakers in the design industry.
Colors + Caftans in the Desert | A Design Talk and Tour at Maison Bleue Moderne
(2/19, $25) Tour this midcentury marvel with the designer and hear a talk with a Dunn-Edwards color expert about the celebration of color used throughout the property.
New talks include:
Stories Untold: Honoring Diverse Voices, Illuminating Untold Stories and Forging Connections with the Past Through Architecture and Landscape Design (2/19, free)
Since 2022, Modernism Week has presented Stories Untold, focused on the history and narratives of architects and design professionals historically left out of the spotlight. This year Stories Untold celebrates recently constructed buildings and venues designed to illuminate untold stories, honor diverse voices, and foster meaningful connections with the past. Sharing this story will be esteemed guests Dr. Tonya Matthews (President and CEO of IAAM), Walter Hood (renowned landscape architect, MacArthur ‘Genius Grant’ Fellow, and designer of IAAM’s African Ancestors Memorial Garden), Gabrielle Bullock (Director of Global Diversity at the international architectural design firm, Perkins&Will, which co-designed the Smithsonian Museum), and Jason W. Foster (President and COO of Destination Crenshaw). This is a free event, but tickets will be required. The is event is graciously underwritten by Room&Board.
Meet Modern Pittsburgh: Intersections of Art, Architecture & Design (2/19, $15) This talk will be a dynamic exploration of mid-20th century Pittsburgh, PA through the lens of the built environment, public art, and cultural spaces presented by Brittany Reilly of the Pittsburgh Modern Committee.
Bar Keeps: A Collection of California’s Best Vintage Cocktail Napkins (2/16, $15) Join author Patrick Quinn for a lively road trip across the Golden State. He will share stories, vintage photos, and cocktail napkins from diners to dive bars both famous and forgotten.
Francisco Artigas at Midcentury: Modern Houses of the Mexican Miracle (2/12, $18) Francisco Artigas, renowned architect of the 1950s and 1960s, designed elegant modern homes for the elite of Mexico City and beyond, leaving a lasting legacy of sophistication and timeless style.
The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations in the Coachella Valley (2/22, free)California Desert Arts Council reveals the economic impact of spending by Coachella Valley nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences — and how the data can propel investment in the sector.
Modern Beyond Style and the Pursuit of Beauty (2/18, $15) Join architect Larry Booth for a tour of some of his most influential architectural designs featured in the new book Modern Beyond Style and the Pursuit of Beauty. The book maps the evolution of Booth’s designs that eschew mechanistic modernism in favor of humanistic designs that synthesize modern and traditional elements. Booth’s designs have fostered a 21st century design that is “modern beyond any one style.”
New art-related events include:
The Art of Herb Alpert. Palm Springs, CA (2/20 and 2/22, $50)Experience the paintings, sculptures, and music of Herb Alpert at the inaugural exhibition of his private art space: Herb Alpert, Palm Springs. This extraordinary art center is dedicated to showcasing the renowned art of Herb Alpert, a legendary musician and 9-time Grammy Award recipient, whose collection of paintings and sculptures have been created over four decades of artistic exploration. With its expansive 12,000 sq/ft facility featuring three extraordinary exhibition spaces and a stunning outdoor sculpture garden, this is a destination that promises a memorable experience.
Masterpieces of Art: Monet, Picasso, O’Keeffe, Warhol & Herb Alpert (2/21, $50) Heather James Fine Art’s Senior Curator, Chip Tom, will guide a tour of Impressionist and Modern art, including the Herb Alpert Sculpture Garden, followed by a seated luncheon and refreshments.
Exhibit: Stephen Willard Vintage Postcards of Palm Springs at the Welwood Murray Memorial Library (2/15 – 2/25, free)This free exhibition of Stephen Willard’s postcards from the 1930s to the 1950s will beon display in the main room of the Welwood Murray Memorial Library. This collection is owned by Bert Simonis.
Gallery Opening – The John R. Hamilton Lost Archive Exposed: Hollywood Cool
(2/17, free) MAD.KAT x Hollywood Cool Opening Reception. This exhibition features a selection of John Hamilton’s extensive photography portfolio showcasing his images of iconic Hollywood celebrities at home and on film set.
Additional newly added events include:
Pasta Making Cooking Class and Lunch at Trio Palm Springs (2/22, 2/23, and 2/24, $125)
Modernism Week attendees will be able to enjoy a special opportunity to learn the art of pasta making in a hands-on session led by Trio Palm Springs’ Executive Chef, Jeremy Loomis. During this workshop, Jeremy will share his passion for the art and technique of making amazing handmade pasta varieties such as agnolotti, fettuccine, gemelli, torchietto, and bucatini by teaching guests how to make gnocchi from scratch. In addition, guests will learn how to prepare one of Jeremy’s delicious sauces and will receive a recipe card to take home. Following this fun and informative cooking demonstration, guests will enjoy a pasta lunch and two glasses of wine in Trio’s restaurant, housed in the midcentury modern Turonnet building, designed by John Porter Clark and Albert Frey, and built in 1953.
Sip and Shop for a Cause (2/15, free retail event) Mingle with revered designer Trina Turk while enjoying bubbly and bites and shopping for the perfect look for the Trina Turk Fashion Show or any other Modernism Week event. A portion of event proceeds will benefit PS ModCom.
AfterGlow: The Palm Springs Modernism Online Showcase (2/19 – 2/25, free) AfterGlow: The Palm Springs Modernism Online Showcase is an extension of the in-person Palm Springs Modernism Show. It offers anyone an opportunity to continue to shop from the participating dealers.
Modernism Week top sponsors include Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Brizo, Dunn-Edwards Paints, JennAir, Flor, Natural Retreats, and Willis. The City of Palm Springs is the Civic Presenting Sponsor. To receive Modernism Week updates, visit modernismweek.com and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).