Goff in the Desert

The film shows 62 buildings – from small petrol stations to representative museums – designed by the American architect Bruce Goff (1904-1982). As such, it is the first comprehensive filmic catalogue of nearly all his surviving creations. Bruce Goff is the great unknown of an original American form of architecture. His constructions and designs run contrary to the ideals of the by contrast well-known Inter-national Style movement. Bruce Goff’s work sparked legendary controversies during his lifetime. Nearly all his buildings stood like a shock in the landscape, paving the way for new, as yet unimaginable avenues in architecture.

Heinz Emigholz’s filmic photographs are an open-minded look at the spaces Bruce Goff created. Shooting took place on 40 days in April and May 2002 during a 9,200-mile journey across the United States.

Abb 1,2: Al Struckus House, Los Angeles, 1979

Goff in the Desert

Architecture as Autobiography - Bruce Goff (1904-1982)
Photography and beyond - Part 7

Germany 2002/3
110 Minute, 3155 m, 35 mm, color, 1:1,37

Director, photography, editor: Heinz Emigholz
Producer: Irene von Alberti, Frieder Schlaich
Collaboration and sound: Ueli Etter, May Rigler
Sound Design: Martin Langenbach, Bernd Popella
Voice: Christian Reiner
Trick: Thomas Wilk
Assistant to the producer: Robin Mast
Produced by Filmgalerie 451, Stuttgart/Berlin
Coproducer: WDR, Wilfried Reichart
With support by MFG Filmförderung Baden-Württemberg and SWR

Thanx to Ms. Akright, G. C. Becker, Joanne und Dick Bennett, Bob Benson, Jerri Bonebrake, Bill Brown, Libby Bunch, Mack und Renate Caldwell, Susan und Peter Caldwell, Meggie und Ben Cothran, Harry Compton, Charles Conrad, Mary Jane Daniels, Bob und Della Deme, Glen Etzkorn, Donna und Joniece Frank, Elizabeth Gallup, Julia Gee, Jeff Glass, Connie Golden, Bill und Martha Gryder, Arn Henderson, David und Janet Johnson, Joe und Judy Jones, Ty Kortman, Kevin und Ann Marshall, Steve Maturo, David McGee, Anne Marburger, Jaqueline Miller, Glen Mitchell, Charles und Deanna Myers, Susan Nettinga, Jack und Mary Neuschwander, Sheldon Newman, Ransome Oliver, Carol und Leon Price, Phyllis Randolph, Iona Redemer, Brenda Reed, Sidney K. Robinson, Gabriele Röthemeyer, Stefanie Salata, Mark Sappington, Paul und Jody Searing, Bess und Richard Serr, Dan Sostheim, Deborah Stratman, Robert Sword, David und Rosalee Taylor, Thomas Thixton, Rex Thompson, Marjorie Walden, Patricia Walkup, Laura and Joe Warriner, Thomas Weber und Martina Zöllner

Shooting diary: www.bruce-goff-film.com

Worldpremiere: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Forum), 14. Februar 2003

Goff in der Wüste wurde im Dezember 2003 auf der ›6. Biennale für Medien und Architektur‹ in Graz mit dem Preis für die interessanteste Architekturdokumentation ausgezeichnet.

"Photography and beyond" is a series of films about art and design - "projections" that become visible as writings, drawings, photography, architecture and sculpture.

A reverse visual process is analyzed: seeing as expression, not as impression. The eye as the interface between the brain and the outside world, the gaze as a compositional power that projets an idea into the outside world or comprehends it by means of cinematography.

Abb 3: Ledbetter House, Norman, 1947

The following buildings are featured in the order of their creation: George Way House (1922), Adah Robinson Studio (1923), Consolidated Cut Stone Office Building (1925), Day Building (1926), Boston Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church (1926), Skelly Oil Building Addition (1928), Riverside Studio (1928), Guaranty Laundry (1928) und Midwest Equitable Meter Company (1929) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Watts Lyon House (1929) in El Paso, Texas, Latham House (1930) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Chester Rant House (1938) in Northfield bei Chicago, Paul Colmorgan House (1940) in Glenview bei Chicago, Helen Unseth House (1940) in Park Ridge, Chicago, Irma Bartman House (1941) in Louisville, Kentucky, Camp Parks Entrance Gate (1944) in Dublin, Californien, Camp Parks Chapel (1945) in San Lorenzo, Californien, Myron Bachmann House Alterations (1947) in Chicago, Illinois, Ford House (1947) in Aurora, Illinois, Ledbetter House (1947) in Norman, Oklahoma, Hopewell Baptist Church (1947) in Edmond, Oklahoma, Julius Cox House (1949, Erweiterung 1959) in Boise City, Oklahoma, John Keys House (1950), Magyness House (1951) und Roger Corsaw House (1952) in Norman, Oklahoma, John Garvey House (1954) in Urbana, Illinois, John and Grace Lee Frank House (1956) in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, Eddie Parker House (1956) in Dallas, Texas, Miller Brother’s Service Station (1957) in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, Comer House (1957) in Dewey, Oklahoma, Pollock House (1957, Anbau 1980), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Freeman House (1958) in Joplin, Missouri, Howard Jones House (1958) in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Robert Durst House (1958, Erweiterung 1976) in Houston, Texas, Redeemer Lutheran Education Building (1959), Richard Bennett House (1959) und Akright House Alterations (1959) in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Gryder House (1960) in Ocean Springs, Missouri, James Fichette House (1961) in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Celestine Barby House (1962) in Beaver, Oklahoma, Daniels House (1964) in Gower, Missouri, William Dace House (1964) in Beaver, Oklahoma, Rolland Jacquart House (1965) in Sublette, Kansas, Duncan House (1965) in Cobden, Illinois, Fitzgerald Realty Company Offices (1965) in Tyler, Texas, Lawrence Hyde House (1965) in Kansas City, Kansas, James Nicol House (1965) in Kansas City, Missouri, Searing House (1966) in Kansas City, Kansas, Glen Mitchell House (1968) in Dodge City, Kansas, Youngstrom House (1968) in Lake Quivira, Kansas, Bruce Plunkett House (1970), Home for Parade of Homes (1971), Lake Village Entrance Feature, Model Houses A-1, A-2 und 3, B und Double House (alle 1972) in Flint, Texas, Celestine Barby House (1976) in Tucson, Arizona, Al Struckus House (1979) in Woodland Hills, Californien, und Shin’enKan – Pavillion für Japanische Kunst im Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1978-88, mit Bart Prince), Los Angeles, Californien. Dazu ein morgendlicher Highway bei Tulsa, ein Trailerpark bei Study Butte im Big Bend Gebirge, Texas, ein Fetzen aus „La mer“ von Claude Debussy und die Ruinen von Shin’enKan (1956-1998) in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, am 10. Mai 2002.