'Design for Modern Living' - Page 2

Besides Sheets, artists portrayed in the hour-long film include painters Phil Dike and Milford Zornes, ceramicists Harrison McIntosh, Rupert Deese, Jean and Arthur Ames, and many more.

Although the work of many of the Claremont artists, beautiful as it is, is conservative in nature, representational or abstracted representational, in an art world that was going increasingly non-objective or conceptual, the town did have its cutting-edge artists too—hard-edge painter Karl Benjamin, sculptor Jack Zajac, poet of light James Turrell. They are in the film as well.

"What I really appreciate about [the Claremont scene] is, as it evolved and it grew, it gave artists a chance to pursue their highly individual paths, to explore them in a deep way, and at the same time let artists feel they were part of a cohesive community," Bockhorst says.

"The range of styles these artists were pursuing was extremely broad," he adds. "And yet the artists were able to enjoy one another's company, experience a camaraderie and belonging that to me, I find rare. As an artist myself, this is a situation that I would love."

The film had its premiere at Claremont's Garrison Theater, which was designed by Sheets and has murals by him.

The subject of the arts renaissance in Claremont is so rich, Bockhost plans a companion film. 'Claremont Modern: The Convergence of Art + Architecture at Midcentury,' which he hopes to complete by the fall, will delve into the architecture and city planning of the period, with a focus on the work of Millard Sheets and associate Sue Hertel on the many Home Savings & Loan Association branches they designed and decorated. The film will be done with the collaboration of the group Claremont Heritage.

For more on the film, click here. For more on Claremont Heritage, click here.