Kem Weber

Overview

This book is a comprehensive overview of the Kem Weber designed Disney animation furniture that takes the reader on a journey from concept sketches and photos to interviews with legendary artists. Kem Weber, a well-known mid-century architect, influenced California style during the mid-twentieth century with buildings architecture, interior designs and furniture, including his famed Air Line chair, which is part of many museum furniture collections. As chief designer for the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank in 1939, Weber also designed the specialized animation furniture that went into the then new studio complex. The Disney animation furniture, which has been lauded in recent years, was designed for specific animation disciplines and was part of Walt Disney's desire to create an efficient utopian campus for animated film production. The book celebrates and details the form and function of this unique mid-century furniture and the impact it had on the Disney animation process over the decades.

Reviews

"In his authoritative new work, Kem Weber: Furniture Designs for the Disney Studios, Dave Bossert once again shows a fusion of erudition and passion for his subject, introducing a new generation to a remarkable and sadly-neglected artist, and documenting the significant and timeless cross-disciplinary design portfolio he created for Walt Disney."  —Jeff Kurtti, Disney historian and author, The Art of Tangled A feature article titled, "Dave Bossert Wrote the Book on Disney Animation Furniture" by Joanna Werch Takes. An interview with the author of Kem Weber: Mid-Century Furniture Designs for the Disney Studios, and his views on this unique specialty furniture that was the foundation for the creation of many of the Disney animated classics. —WoodworkersJournal.com

"Walt Disney's studio lot in Burbank was an animator's utopia, thanks in large part to the designs of Kem Weber. His influence could be felt from the architecture of the buildings to the custom furniture created for the various animation disciplines. Disney fans have no doubt seen it before through behind-the-scenes photos or Disney Archives exhibits, but few have touched it or sat in it. But you'll feel like you have when you read Dave Bossert's newest book, a dream project called Kem Weber: Mid-Century Designs for the Disney Studios." —Alex Reif, https://www.laughingplace.com ? Nominee: IBPA Benjamin Franklin Book Awards —www.ibpa-online.org/news/440987/31st-Annual-IBPA-Benjamin-Franklin-Awards.htm

"Mapping the intersection of utility and style, this book examines the architecture and furniture of Kem Weber and how his aesthetic complimented the working culture of Disney Studios. Pairing original illustrations, photographs and descriptions of Weber's furniture alongside anecdotes from the artists who worked on it." —The US Review of Books

Feature article on the new book Kem Weber: Mid-Century Furniture Designs for the Disney Studios, discusses the design period and furniture as part of a review of the book. —https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/disney-animator-desk/    

This is a two page article spread in the Disney Vacation Club magazine Winter edition that is mailed on December 7th. —Disney Files Magazine/ Winter 2018, Volume 27, Number 4

All About Mouse Central Podcast Episode #381 – Dave Bossert: Mid-Century Furniture Designs For the Disney Studios—November 19, 2018; This is a popular Disney fan based podcast.

"Dave Bossert, a veteran effects animator of the Walt Disney studio, was gifted the original Kem Weber-designed desk on his departure. His affection for this desk prompted a new monograph on Weber's important design contributions to the Walt Disney studios in Burbank." —Patricia Zohn, www.culturezohn.com

Kem Weber: Mid-Century Furniture Designs for the Disney Studios was included in Los Angeles Magazine's "The Best Books About L.A. of 2018" review. —Interview, Los Angeles Magazine, https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/best-books-about-la-2018/?fbclid=IwAR2oFv5_CEMDP_uTIvMmYVgNjZu3hlDG4lD1Pt22bpLVYqEtD_T8En6gAzM

Author Biography

David A. Bossert is an award-winning artist, filmmaker, and author. He worked at The Walt Disney Company for more than 32-years and is now an independent producer, creative director, and writer. Bossert contributed his talents to The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Fantasia 2000, Destino and many others. He is a member of the CalArts Board of Trustees and is a visiting scholar at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) in Pittsburgh. Bossert is an authority on Disney animation history and has written numerous articles, liner notes, and concert program notes related to animation. He co-authored Disney Animated, which was named iPad App of 2013 by Apple and won a prestigious British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award. He lives in Los Angeles, California.