Andrew Geller: Deconstructed: Artist and Architect

Description

Over the course of a career that lasted more than fifty years, Andrew Geller - architect, artist, and designer - quietly produced a large and culturally significant body of work, leaving an invaluable mark in his field. Geller's impact was first felt in the heady post- World War II years he spent at the Raymond Loewy design firm, where one highlight amongst many was his creation of the iconic logo for Lord & Taylor, in an inspired flourish of the hand. He is undoubtedly most well-known, though, for his architecture, and his stunning modernist beach houses in particular, houses that still grace our shores and which, not unlike Andrew Geller himself, were innovative, unconventional, and saturated with a delight for beauty and form. In Andrew Geller: Deconstructed, Jake Gorst celebrates the life and work of his grandfather, bringing together two-decades worth of interviews, both formal and informal, as well as many artefacts and treasures culled from Geller's vast personal collection of drawings and photographs.Included within are stories and images not only of his now famous beach houses, but also of the many lesser-known buildings and early artworks, making this the definitive volume on this architectural icon. Gorst's intent in writing this volume - to share this wealth of information and provide an intimate glimpse into the inner workings of an artist - is here fully actualised, rendering a vivid portrait of a man whose main drive in life was to create beauty whatever he did.

Jake Gorst has spent the past two decades researching and documenting mid-century modern architecture, including the work of his grandfather, architectural designer Andrew Geller, in print and film. Gorst is an Emmy(R) award winning documentary filmmaker and the director of Mainspring Pictures Ltd. Recent films directed by Gorst include Modern Tide: Midcentury Architecture on Long Island (2012, Design Onscreen), William Krisel, Architect (2010, Design Onscreen), Journeyman Architect: The Life and Work of Donald Wexler (2009, Design Onscreen) and Desert Utopia: Mid-Century Architecture in Palm Springs (2006, Design Onscreen). His films Farmboy (2006, Jonamac Productions), and Leisurama (2005, Jonamac Productions), have been in national U.S. public television distribution. Gorst has also a contributing writer to VOX Hamptons, HOME Miami and Modernism magazines.

During the course of writing the manuscript, previously unknown archival materials were discovered in crawl spaces and other hiding places in the house that he lived in for nearly sixty years. Prior misconceptions were enlightened and clarified. Even previously unknown Andrew Geller buildings were discovered. The finished book, Andrew Geller: Deconstructed, provides an intimate glimpse into my grandfather s life and a deeper understanding of his work.--Jake Gorst "Modern Magazine, Summer 2015 "