Post-war America will largely be remembered for its lavish excesses. A period of economic boom that saw the advent of suburban sprawl, ornate architecture and wonderfully decorative vehicles roll off the Detroit assembly lines.
Many of the designers responsible for the creation of these incredible rolling works of art are sadly no longer with us, and their experiences along with the anecdotes of the bustling industry have gone with them. But those that remain are happy to recall the ‘glory days’ of car design.
That’s exactly what Detroit artist Robert Edwards and former Detroiter Greg Salustro set out to capture when they commissioned cinematographer Jim Toscano for their film, American Dreaming.
American Dreaming is a full-length documentary about American automotive styling from 1946 to 1973, a period when the American automobile served as a metaphor for the country’s optimism and energy. The film includes iconic drawings and interviews with men and women who worked in automotive design studios and art curators, historians, and collectors. As if we didn’t already know, American Dreaming makes the compelling case that hand-drawn automotive designs are great works of art.
The producers are currently seeking funding to make their project a reality through the Chicago Filmmakers association. You can visit their website here to make a donation. And if all goes to plan we can expect to see the film in summer 2015. Fingers crossed.
To read an interview with the creators of American Dreaming head over to the Hemmings website.
