Art deco a go-go
Unfortunately, the Chrysler Building—a great example of art-deco architecture—will not be on display at the Folsom History Museum.
Art-deco design originated in Europe in the early 1920s, offering a sleek, bold-lined style that celebrated the technological advances and social opulence that followed World War I. Europe leaked art-deco style to the rest of the planet at the 1925 World’s Fair in Paris. (The phrase “art deco” was actually coined from the fair’s title: Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs and Industriels Modernes.) Stateside, art deco hit its stride in the late 1920s and continued until the second World War made aesthetic opulence a scarce commodity. Although it was relatively brief, the art-deco period has influenced much of today’s modern design, with its bold colors and streamlined, geometric style.
Many relics from the art-deco era are still visible in America. The Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge are the country’s most prominent architectural examples. Closer to home, the Crest and Tower theaters and the Ryde Hotel all shine with art-deco features. On a smaller scale, private collectors—like the members of the Sacramento Art Deco Society—have gathered art-deco furniture, sculpture, jewelry and art.
The public is invited to see treasures like these at Art Deco: A Revolution in Style, a new exhibit at the Folsom History Museum organized by the Sacramento Art Deco Society. More than 200 objects are on display, including a juke box, a car, two gas pumps, clothes, toys, furniture and an entire art-deco kitchen. The exhibit will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. through February 6, 2005. Admission is $2 for adults and free for children under 12. The Folsom History Museum is located at 823 Sutter Street in Folsom. Call (916) 985-2707 for more information.
