September 12, 2000 Library of Congress Desk Calendar Features the Work of Charles and Ray Eames

Charles and Ray Eames: 2001 Desk Calendar has recently been published by the Library of Congress in association with the Eames Office. Based on the major Library exhibition and accompanying book, The Work of Charles and Ray Eames: A Legacy of Invention, published by Harry N. Abrams in 1997, the calendar celebrates the creative output of these visionary 20th century designers known and loved for their classic modern furniture, architecture, films, toys, exhibitions, and art. The exhibition is accessible on the Library's Web site.

Charles Eames (1907-1973) and Ray Eames (1912-1988) gave shape to America's 20th century and promoted the global expansion of American culture. Nothing escaped the design eye of the husband-and-wife team as they sought to use good design to improve society functionally, culturally, and intellectually. They studied the imagery of daily rituals, entertainment, landscapes, and ordinary objects to promote popular cultures and the currency of exchange between nations and people. They explored the potential of new technologies to create mass-produced products for the American family of moderate income. Called "a sublime pack rat," by architectural historian Esther McCoy, Ray Eames explained that "we found things and kept them as examples of principles or aspects of design. We kept it to show it, to use it, to share it, to give insight to others and ourselves. What works is better than what looks good. The looks good can change, but what works, works."

From the prize-winning chairs designed by Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen for the 1940 "Organic Design in Home Furnishings" competition at the Museum of Modern Art to images from their 1977 film Powers of Ten: A Film Dealing with the Relative Size of Things in the Universe and the Effect of Adding Another Zero, nearly 40 years of their design genius is depicted throughout the calendar, and in a special fold-out time line.

Charles and Ray Eames: 2001 Desk Calendar includes 82 images and is available for $16.95 from booksellers and from the Library of Congress Sales Shop (Credit card orders: 202- 707-0204).

Also available from the Library are the following 2001 calendars featuring the institution's unique and diverse collections: Women Who Dare; The Movies: Preserving America's Film Treasures; The Civil War; Edward S. Curtis: Portraits of Native Americans; Classical Music; American Military Aircraft of World War II; Shakespeare's Realm; and David Roberts: Travels in Egypt and the Holy Land.