American Framing: Improbably Overlooked Yet Familiar Architecture

Originally exhibited at the U.S. pavilion of the 2021 Venice Biennial of Architecture, and on view at Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Center (January 12 – July 2, 2023), curators Paul Andersen and Paul Preissner developed the exhibition American Framing to examine wood framing—one of the country’s most overlooked yet common construction systems. Originating in the early 19th century, softwood construction was a pragmatic solution to a need for an accessible building system among settlers with limited resources of wealth, technical skills, and building traditions.

It has been the dominant construction system ever since—more than 90% of new homes in the U.S. today are wood framed. Despite its ubiquity, wood framing is also one of the country’s most under-appreciated contributions to architecture. Its lack of disciplinary prestige stems from the same characteristics that make it so prevalent -- ease of use, light weight, and affordability. However, it is these very qualities that introduce a flexibility for form, labor, composition, class, sensibility, access, and style that expand the possibilities for architecture.

In this exhibition presentation, “the Pauls” tell the story of an Architectural moment that was bored with tradition, chose economy over skill, and accepted a relaxed idea of craft in the pursuit of something useful. They show us that a profound and powerful future for design can be conceived out of an ordinary past.

The exhibition American Framing, at the Architecture and Design Center, presents models, furniture, photographs, and a full-scale wood structure, which together argue that a profound and powerful future for design can be conceived out of an ordinary past. Participating artists include Ania Jaworska, Norman Kelley, Daniel Shea, Chris Strong, and students from the University of Illinois Chicago.  psmuseum.org

$15

Things to Know
This event is for ages 12 and older.
The entrance to the Annenberg Theater is located behind the Annenberg Theater Box Office, adjacent to the Palm Springs Art Museum's North Parking Lot.
Ample free public parking is available in the multi-level public garage across from the Palm Springs Art Museum.
Handicap parking is available. This event is wheelchair accessible.
The organizer of this event is Modernism Week.

Event Check-in Location 
Annenberg Theater,  Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 N. Museum Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262
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Photo Credits: American Frame, Photography By Chris Strong, Al Palmer, photographer. War housing in Erie, Pennsylvania, 1941. Courtesy Library of Congress, American Frame, American Frame, American Frame