THE ART AND DESIGN OF MATSON’S POSTWAR LINERS
Presented by Wayne Yanda
September 27 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Aloha! During the postwar era, the iconic white ships of Matson Lines were the way to travel to Hawaii and the South Seas. The quartet of LURLINE, MATSONIA, MARIPOSA, and MONTEREY were practically rebuilt from the keel up to become icons of luxury travel in the Pacific. Their modern interiors, by designers Raymond Loewy and Harry Neafie – crafted to ensconce the traveler in Polynesia the moment they stepped aboard – showcased murals and sculpture inspired by the destinations. Artists selected hailed from both coasts, including Edna Andrade, Esther Bruton, Helen Bruton, Marion Cunningham, Francesco di Cocco, Sargent Johnson, Peter Ostuni, Emmy Lou Packard, Anton Refregier, Louis Ross, and Jacques Schnier. At our September membership meeting we joined maritime historian Wayne Yanda for a look at the modern-primitive stylings of these “Pacific Playgrounds.”
Wayne Yanda is a freelance graphic designer. He is also Editor and Contributor to the Ocean Times, the quarterly journal of the Steamship Historical Society of America’s Southern California Chapter. He has catalogued the bulk of the art commissioned for American liners built between 1927 and 1962 on his website www.muralsonthehighseas.com.
(Photo: Wayne Yanda collection)