Star Trek Modern: The Midcentury Designers Who Furnished the Final Frontier

Through photo stills of furnishings and props along with episode clips from Star Trek The Original Series the speakers will illustrate how the art directors and set decorators shaped our image of the future using objects readily available in the mid-1960s.

Dan Chavkin began his photographic career at the Art Center College of Design. Dan has been a professional photographer for over 25 years, initially photographing celebrities for major publications. In 2009, he moved to Palm Springs to redirect his focus on midcentury modern architecture. In addition to the Star Trek book, Dan has authored two books, with one on the husband and wife midcentury designers Jerome & Evelyn Ackerman, titled, Hand-In-Hand and the other a survey of his photographic work consisting of midcentury modern architecture throughout Coachella Valley, titled Unseen Midcentury Desert Modern.

Brian McGuire earned B.A. in Molecular Biology and his Ph.D in Biochemistry, from Vanderbilt University.  His career was in new drug development for the pharmaceutical industry.  In 2012 he successfully had his Donald Wexler-designed steel house listed in the National Register of Historic Places with Dan Chavkin providing the photography for the application.  McGuire currently lives in Ventura County, California and also resides part-time in Kansas City, where he grew up an avid Star Trek fan.

$12

Things to Know

This event is for all ages.
A book signing will follow the event.
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 

CAMP Theater, 285 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262
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Photo Credits: Star Trek book cover. credit: Weldon Owen, Pierre Paulin' Ribbon chairs. credit: Wright Auction, Warren Platner furniture group: credit: Oliver Brown, Chromcraft Sculpta chair: credit: Furnish Me Vintage, Malcolm Leland Candle Lantern: Los Angeles Modern Auctions, Still from the ST episode "Metamorphosis": CBS/VIACOM