Eames is an evocative word: iconic furniture; a power couple for the ages; rule-makers and breakers; playful partners; the very definition of Good Design. For Kristin Damrow, Eames is also synonymous with contemporary dance.
Damrow, an Oakland-based choreographer, spent the past 18 months bringing Eames to life; the three-night-only performance this weekend is based on the complex professional and personal relationship between Charles and Ray. “It’s a narrative of my interpretation of their lives,” she says of the story, which follows the pair as they meet; fall in love; grow into their creative collaboration; and manage society’s prescribed gender roles and expectations.
Charles and Ray were pioneers at the forefront of the mid-century modern movement; they were also married, and deeply in love. They famously introduced thoughtful design to the masses—producing “the best for the most for the least“—while engineering new manufacturing techniques. Thy also made films, toys, and more, all with a sense of fun, function, and whimsy that endures today.
Yes, Damrow’s is an unconventional take—and her focus is intentionally unbalanced. “Ray’s character is expanded, because I was much more interested in her experience and her role in their partnership, especially at the time they were creating together [in the 1950s].” (Fun fact: Ray studied modern dance with Martha Graham.)