Green Makes the Scene
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Art Center's upcoming annual fundraiser house raffle. Photo: Lance Gerber - courtesy Palos Verdes Art Center |
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The story of a man who aspired to be an artist and ended up partners with 'the master' is being vividly told this year in an upcoming book and a current exhibit in Rancho Palos Verdes.
As if that weren't enough to bring San Francisco architect Aaron Green's prolific career to the fore, a beautiful, oceanfront example of it—the Anderson House of Rancho Palos Verdes—can be had this spring for a mere $150! Special details to follow.
"My dad was really amazing," recalled Allan Green, speaking proudly recently about his father Aaron (1917-2001) as a man and a professional. Allan is a recently retired vintner who worked with his father on occasion as an industrial designer, subject of the junior Green's master's degree.
One of Green's two sons, Allan is also designer and editor of Aaron G. Green: Organic Architecture Beyond Frank Lloyd Wright, a new book on his father and his work, which he said is "planned to come out in September" from Novato-based Oro Editions. The manuscript is written by author and architect Randy Henning, who worked with Green on one of the last projects of the latter's career, American Hebrew Academy in North Carolina.
Green did not personally know Wright when he recommended "the master" to some acquaintances in 1940 based on knowledge of his groundbreaking organic designs. But the meeting led to a career and status as Wright's West Coast representative and only partner.
"He was going to be a graphic designer or illustrator…until he came upon Frank Lloyd Wright," related Allan. "That sort of flipped the switch."
The son said the new book will feature a timeline of 160 projects designed by Green, adding, "We picked 40 projects that the book will focus on."
There are also contributions to the book by Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation archivist Bruce Pfeiffer, and Alan Hess, author and architecture critic for the San Jose Mercury News. Not coincidentally, Hess is the curator of 'Aaron G. Green and California Organic Architecture,' a free exhibit currently running through May 21 at Palos Verdes Art Center (5504 W. Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes).
