Sandi Vincent – MCM Collector Extraordinary.

Japanese Rhine Tourism Poster
by Toshio Fukai, Graphis Annual 1962/63

The Birds
Artist unknown

Performance of Yugoslav Songs & Dances in Prague Poster
by Jaroslav Sura, Graphis Annual 1966/67

LIP Watches & Clocks Poster
by Jacques Auriac, Graphis Annual 1966/67

Lady’s Raincoat Poster
by René Gruau, Graphis Annual 1966/67

CIBA Company Booklet Cover
by Chermayeff + Geismar, Graphis Annual 1964/65

Stanley Credenza

Cover of Holiday Magazine
by George Giusti, Graphis Annual 1966/67

Air France Chile Poster
by Nathan Garamond, Graphis Annual 1963/64

Living Room

Jet Service to Africa by Union Aeromaritime de Transport Poster
by Jean Colin, Graphis Annual 1963/64

Ad for Zurich Printers Specializing in Color Posters
by Celestino Piatti, Graphis Annual 1958/59

Danish Wall Unit

El Al Israel Airlines Travel Poster
by Kor, Graphis Annual 1963/64

City of Jerusalem Tourism Poster
by Eliezer Weishoff, Graphis Annual 1966/67
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I first crossed paths with Sandi Vincent via her flickr stream which will leave any manner of creative and mid-century modern enthusiast quite giddy. Sandi is famous for abundantly sharing magnificent MCM graphic design and illustration works (frequently poster designs) which are scanned from her growing collection of 1950s/1960s Graphis Annuals. These works include a number of my favorite artists such as George Guisti and Celestino Piatti along side other modern masters and lesser known creatives.

Sandi has graciously allowed me to share a set of remarkable images from her vintage Graphis Annuals. (It was horribly difficult to narrow this down.) Her affinity for mid-century modern permeates her charitable interests, lifestyle and interior surroundings. The latter you can see evidenced above as she is an avid collector of MCM art and furniture and has styled her ranch style home so beautifully.

I recently asked Sandi to tell me more about herself and the spark for her interest in mid-century modern. So without further ado, in her own words:

Hmm, it’s hard to nutshell why I love the pop slice of mid century aesthetics. I suppose I could blame it on early viewings of the Monkees, The Avengers and Gerald McBoing-Boing. Perhaps it was watching Laugh-In as a toddler, which informed my first career aspiration, go-go dancer in a cage. I remember being quite taken with the Jetsons and any cartoon featuring a jazzy soundtrack and a house or car of the future. When I has five, I insisted my mom decorate my room a la Jeannie’s Bottle. Pink and purple, natch. As a teenager, I raided my mom’s stash of sixties ski sweaters and cigarette pants and worked hard to maintain a platinum bubble cut. Hair helmet, anyone? Later obsessions included the pink and orange stewardess uniforms from PSA and the Pucci outfits for Braniff stews.

I grew up in the Bay Area (California) and most of the area is post-war construction. Our town was filled with Eichlers and Like-lers. Beamed ceilings, clerestory windows, atriums were commonplace. Not a charming bungalow to be found anywhere.

I came later to my preoccupation with MCM graphics. Rather a progression from all other things mid century. Over the last decade I’ve stockpiled a nice collection of magazines and books from the era. At first, primarily interiors and architecture magazines. A while back, at a most magnificent estate sale for the home of two advertising execs, l came across my first Graphis Annual. $4, 1955/56. That was my gateway drug, I figure. Since then, I’ve been able to find 9 others from the 50′s and 60′s. End result, loads of scans of the unsung heroes and heroines of mid century graphic design. I’m thrilled to be able to share what I find.

I live in Portland and am a board member of a local nonprofit, the Mid Century Modern League. In 2008 we were fortunate enough to save a vital piece of Portland’s history from the wrecking ball, a piece of neon signage six weeks out from demo. We do what we can to share and preserve the gems of MCM design around the Portland metro area. (And our parties are pretty great as well).

>> See much MUCH more of Sandi’s incredible MCM eye candy on her flickr + tumblr
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