Nancy Baron: The Good Life
“I entered a Time Machine with the intention of journeying back to the late 1950s, aiming to immerse myself in the lifestyle of my parents during the Mad Men era. My destination turned out to be Palm Springs, California.
The city I found myself in was truly stunning, featuring the backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountain range against the Sonoran Desert. The residential and hotel community, designed by renowned architects like Richard Neutra, Donald Wexler, and Albert Frey, epitomized the glamorous existence of movie stars and filmmakers from that time.
The fashion scene was effortlessly stylish, with individuals donning attire in shades of turquoise, mustard yellow, avocado green, pink, and red, all echoing the vibe of the 1950s.
However, the Time Machine did not transport me back in time as I had hoped. Instead, I was enveloped in a mid-century modern reverie that felt like a dream come to life.” (Nancy Baron)
Nancy Baron’s photographs brilliantly capture the essence of Palm Springs residents, its architecture, and its distinctive style – a realm seemingly untouched by the passage of time. Palm Springs has transformed into one of the most sought-after resorts within California’s expansive territory.
Her photographs serve as a documentation of a reality that often appears stranger than fiction – an enigmatic world where both inhabitants and visitors delight in embodying the laid-back lifestyle of this fashionable Californian resort town. Cocktails, kidney-shaped swimming pools, golf, modernist architecture, and 50’s fashion all form integral components of this wistfully nostalgic encounter.
Within the exhibition at PDNB Gallery, Nancy’s photographs showcase the likes of Piazza de Liberace, adorned with leopard-print wallpaper and featuring a vintage 1959 Fleetwood Cadillac parked outside. Another photograph portrays Bob’s Closet, revealing an array of vividly colored sport coats elegantly worn by a stylish gentleman of Palm Springs. And naturally, a poolside snapshot is obligatory, considering that swimming pools are undoubtedly intertwined with the desert landscape.
Nancy’s unique perspective on this desert community has been immortalized in various published works, such as “The Good Life: Palm Springs,” “Palm Springs: The Good Life Goes On,” and “Palm Springs: Modern Dogs at Home.”
About the Author
Nancy Baron was born in Chicago and is now based in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, California. In her fine art documentary photography, she uses portraits, landscapes, and architectural photographs to record the world nearby with a hopeful bias. Her background in filmmaking, including the documentary form, has inspired her to honor the still image while giving it a cinematic tone.
Nancy’s prints have been shown in group and one-person exhibitions internationally and are held in public and private collections. Her photography has been published in notable magazines and newspapers worldwide, including The New York Times, Madame Figaro, W Magazine, Architectural Digest, The Telegraph Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, Fast Times, Mother Jones, and on the Apple, CNN, and BBC websites.
Baron’s two monographs, The Good Life > Palm Springs and Palm Springs > The Good Life Goes On are published by Kehrer Verlag and are held in the collection of the Library of Congress and in various museum libraries, including MOMA, LACMA, the Getty, The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, and The Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas, Austin.
Nancy’s third monograph, Palm Springs Modern Dogs at Home, was published by Schiffer Books in September 2020.
Nancy Baron: The Good Life
May 20 – August 12, 2023
PDNB Gallery – Dallas – Texas – USA
