EVENT: “California Modern: Irvine Style” will explore the master plans for UCI and Irvine in relation to American modernism and higher education and early 1960s Utopianism. The symposium and exhibits aim to define the legacy and influence of architect William Pereira (1909-1985), who designed the campus and city.

WHEN/WHERE: April 18-25 at UCI’s Student Center (bldg. 113, grid E8 on campus map).

HIGHLIGHTS:        

Monday, April 18 – Pacific Ballroom

Symposium (RSVP required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/california-modern-irvine-style-symposium-april-18-tickets-23179274835)

10 a.m.: “Pereira & UCI: The View From the City,” a roundtable moderated by Catherine Liu, UCI professor of film & media studies, with California architect Alan Hess; Kevin Staniec, director of the Great Park Gallery, which is producing the exhibit “Yesterday’s Future: William Pereira” (June-October 2016); and Grace Kook-Anderson, curator of “Yesterday’s Future: William Pereira”

11:30 a.m.: Lunch, featuring one-minute student film festival awards and viewing, with Peter Krapp, UCI professor of film & media studies

1 p.m.: “Pereira & UCI: Architectural Perspectives,” two 35-minute lectures by architectural historian and curator Nicholas Olsberg and French architect and architectural historian Jean-Louis Cohen, followed by a Q&A session moderated by Ed Dimendberg, UCI professor of film & media studies

3 p.m.: Coffee break

3:30 p.m.: Address by keynote speaker Elizabeth Diller, architect and MacArthur Fellow, introduced by Georges Van Den Abbeele, dean of the UCI School of Humanities

5 p.m.: “Irvine Histories & Futures,” a roundtable moderated by David Feldman, UCI professor and chair of planning, policy & design, with founding and foundational faculty members Robert Cohen, William Lillyman, James McGaugh, William Parker and Vicki Ruiz; Beth Krom, Irvine councilwoman and former mayor; and Irvine architect John Coons

April 18-25 – Crystal Cove Lobby

“Turning 50” exhibit, curated by Kevin Staniec, director of the Great Park Gallery, Irvine arts advocate, author and publisher

April 19-22 – Viewpoint Gallery

Noon talks intended to stimulate interest in campus history and design (RSVP required for lunch: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lunchtime-gallery-talks-california-modern-irvine-style-campus-architecture-city-planning-and-the-tickets-22746975817)

Tuesday, April 19
“What Happened to UCI’s Centrum?” and other stories about Pereira’s vision for the campus, with Laura Uglean Jackson and Christine Kim of the UCI Libraries

Wednesday, April 20
“Around the Campus in 60 Seconds: Celebrating Student Films About UCI,” with Peter Krapp, UCI professor of film & media studies

Thursday, April 21
“The UCI Campus: Designs for Learning & Living,” with Sanjoy Mazumdar, Dan Stokols and Cecilia Kim of UCI’s Department of Planning, Policy & Design

Friday, April 22
“UCI Stories: Oral Histories,” with Krystal Tribbett of the UCI Libraries

 INFORMATION: Symposium and related events are free and open to the public. Parking is $10 at the Student Center Parking Structure (grid D9 on campus map). Media planning to attend should contact Paula Korn at 949-824-4620 or pkorn@uci.edu. Parking is complimentary for media who RSVP in advance.

BACKGROUND: “California Modern: Irvine Style” is the fifth in a wide-ranging series of symposia commemorating UCI’s 50th anniversary. Sponsors include the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor; the School of Humanities; the Claire Trevor School of the Arts; the UCI Libraries; the Department of Planning, Policy & Design; and Illuminations: The Chancellor’s Arts & Culture Initiative. For more information, see http://sites.uci.edu/pereira.