By Robert Farago
December 16, 2008
I discovered Michael Furman’s photography whilst covering the Ralph Lauren car exhibit at The Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The two men were made for each other. Furman’s photographs portray automobiles as perfect objects: gleaming, seamless sculptures that exist outside the confines of entropic reality. Lauren’s collection IS perfect, restored to a level of flawlessness that makes an airbrushed cover shot of Britney Spears look like a photo booth snapshot. And then painted to a gloss to shame Adriana Lima’s luscious lips. When I talked to Furman about Lauren’s collection (Furman shot the catalogue), the artist showed an encyclopedic knowledge of GM’s design heyday. And now, here it is. The publisher was kind enough to send me a couple of copies [full description of the book after the jump]. One goes to Eddy for his birthday (today!). One goes to the commentator who can best tell me, in ten words or less, how GM can turn around its business. Thank you, in advance, for your submissions. [NB: to see the horizontal images properly, please click on them a second time]
“Produced with superb production values and complete editorial independence, Art and Colour is a must-have book for auto aficionados young and old, and will appeal to everyone who has a love affair with the style, elegance and excitement that have characterized General Motors cars, and with the design, romance and beauty of all great American automobiles.
Featuring the photography of Michael Furman, considered the world’s leading photographer of classic cars, and original essays by a virtual all-star team of America’s most distinguished automotive historians and journalists, the book was honored via a gala pre-publication introduction on August 17th at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the most prestigious classic car event in the United States.
With more than 280 pages of stunning color photographs and archival illustrations throughout its 320 pages, Art and Colour examines landmark General Motors designs from the inception of GM’s historic “Art and Colour Section” to the best of modern day and “future” automobiles, and presents most of the major cars–including one-of-a-kind concept cars and iconic cars–that have created General Motors’ legacy for the past 100 years.
The book features the early Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles and Buicks that launched GM; the “Motorama” dream cars that defined a generation of post-war American culture; the Corvettes, Pontiacs and Chevys that powered automotive imagination in the ‘60s; and the latest concept cars, representing the leading edge of automotive design.
Distinguished essayists include Phil Patton of the New York Times, Ken Gross from Playboy magazine, Tracy Powell of Automobile Quarterly, Jerry Burton from Corvette Quarterly, and noted automotive historians Richard S. Adatto, Terry V. Boyce, Jeffery I. Godshall, Lawrence R. Gustin, Tony Hossain and Michael Lamm, as well as Ed Welburn, Vice President for Global Design at GM.
The book also features an introduction by Bob Lutz, Vice Chairman of General Motors, and a forward by world renowned jeweler and car collector Nicola Bulgari. Noted automotive author Jonathan A. Stein served as the book’s editor–his third collaboration with Michael Furman–and design commentary is provided by Stewart Reed, Chairman of Transportation Design at the prestigious Art Center College of Design.”
michaelfurman.com »
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End of Comments
POWERED
December 16th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
It cant.
December 16th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
C-11: Fire Rick, No Union, Bondholder Haircut, Build Good Cars.
December 16th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
It might if a bankruptcy judge forces changes, drops brands.
John
December 16th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
remove retiree benefits, many dealers, current leadership. Find better designers.
(unfortunately, liquidation is more likely than ending retiree benefits)
December 16th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Better cars. Better management. Better marketing. Better world. God.
December 16th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Build a superior family of vehicles; the profits will follow.
December 16th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Why the british spelling of Colour for an American company?
December 16th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Build a time machine so you can undo past mistakes.
December 16th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Just built a car that people want to buy, not a car that you want the people to buy.
December 16th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Bankruptcy. Restart with new management, new dealers and no UAW.
December 16th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Make like a Phoenix and let the old bird burn.
December 16th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Screw Creditors
Bust Unions
Modular Car Platform
One Truck Platform
December 16th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Start cutting infected limbs and repeat until solvent
December 16th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Hire Hyundai marketing, Honda engineers, and bust up the Union.
December 16th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
sell everything and give the money back to the shareholders
December 16th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Click heels together three times,
“I wish it were 1963…”
December 16th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Eleven reorganization
Treasury flexibility makes it work
Chevrolet Cadillac profit
December 16th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Bring European cars, kill union, give Farago and me millions.
December 16th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
“Fatten your animal for sacrifice, but keep your muse slender.”
December 16th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Build quality, reliable, well designed vehicles with efficient manufacturing procedures.
December 16th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Streamline product line and dealer network,pay wage and benefit package comparable to competition.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Stop bullshitting. Take bankruptcy, then build reliable cars with soul.
Note: Dictionary.com lists “bullshitting” as one word, not as two (bull shitting). Thank you for allowing me to use the BS word, and thank you for allowing me to explain it, I enjoyed that!
December 16th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Dump Hummer, Saab, Saturn, Buick, GMC. Keep Chevy, Cadillac, Pontiac.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
No simple answer
can overcome the absence
of dedication.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
ignore UAW, outsource production, build cars people want
December 16th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Dazzle Dino-juice Diggers, Quality Questing Quants and Electron Evangelicals Everywhere.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Invent time machine. Set dial to 1955.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Continue beatings until morale improves.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
ditch unions, upper management, saturn, pontiac, buick, saab
December 16th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
File bankruptcy, fire current management, get rid of unions.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
“No, Mr. Bond… I expect you to DIE.”
December 16th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Move corporate HQ to Alabama / Tennessee – Federal bailout will follow. :)
December 16th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Act like our life depends on making the best cars
December 16th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
BETTER product than the competition. “As good” doesn’t cut it.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
No simple answer
can overcome the absence
of dedication.
Haiku – nice. I’ll try.
GM stinks badly,
That is certainly no lie,
Bankruptcy it is.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Who dont believes in miracles is not a realist
December 16th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Goodbye Buick, Pontiac, GMC and Saturn. We hardly knew ye.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Pray to God, light a candle and sacrifice Wagoner!
December 16th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
gather all inputs in big pile, detonate 20 megaton nuke.
–
BTW: LOVE the constraint idea! FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 16th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Trucks only, visionary leadership, put me in charge. Not really
December 16th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Rewind time to 1950 and start over.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
When better cars are built, General Motors will build them.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
My Entry #2:
Do the opposite of whatever you were doing.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Pay retirees, management with excess cars. Cut white collar jobs drastically.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Offer the company for free to Toyota or Honda.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
5Y/60K BB, 10Y/100K PT and 3-6K tax credit. For all the working people.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
:1 Product
:2 productivity
:3 customer service
:4 cost control
:5 focus
:6 goto :1
December 16th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
With Washington’s legislative help, keep Chevrolet & Cadillac. Dump dealers & union.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Make Cadillac great again. Sell Chevys to everyone else. Period!
December 16th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
To everybody working at GM:
Do the opposite of what Rick Wagoner orders.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
The phoenix can only rise from ashes.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Prepackaged Bankruptcy, Chevy Cadillac, improve quality, competitive cars, UAW concessions.
Now I can replace Rick.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Get on all fours and become Toyota’s bitch for help.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
This is fun! I sure hope we are allowed more than one try.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
A program to guarantee resale value wouldn’t hurt either. It could be administered similar to warranties, with insurance or self-insurance. Such a guarantee would almost certainly bump up resale value. Because they have the option of that guarantee, car owners will demand more money for their used cars. I’m not sure if it would work better as a closed program, available only if they trade in for another GM product, or to guarantee the value regardless of how they sell/trade the car. Either way has its own advantages.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Seek the truth and become what you find.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Ronnie Schreiber :
That’s 78 words too many.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Stop squirming, start hacking, take back your dignity.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Plan beyond next quarter and make cars people will buy.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Quit while your ahead-less foolish company far behind everyone else.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Give me $20,000 a day.
I will turn it around.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Go bankrupt. Get rid of unions. Stop selling crap.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Give me $20,000 a day.
I will turn it around.
I’ll do it for $10,000 a day…
December 16th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Ask yourself, “What would Brian Boitano do?”
December 16th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
a divine death
rebirthed hope from ash
success by gumption
Yes I know, Haiku Fail…
December 16th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Give up; sell re badged camcords
December 16th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Make the best that cost less. Throw poop at Wagoner.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Ten words? I can do it in two: Chapter 7.
After hearing about the vandalism in Michigan against imported cars, I will never even consider a UAW/CAW-made car. Put them out on the street so they can get a dose of reality. High school education with poor work habits does not get you a 6-figure salary in the real world.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Cars made with purpose, that don’t fill the UAW purse.
Note for those not familiar with the Sloan years:
GM – “A car for every purse and purpose.”
December 16th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Lessons from designing and building Vette applied across the board
December 16th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Run GM with engineers and marketing, not beancounters and Union.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Use the bailout to start new auto manufacturer down the street.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
How to turn GM around part II:
Do not use
eight eight words
if market
demands ten.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Change name to Toyota.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
It’s all about corporate culture. Change that, you change everything.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Hold gun to governments head, “BUY GM OR ELSE!”
December 16th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I can do it in 3 words.
adopt. corker’s. compromise.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Build…me…a…car…that…I’d…actually…like…to…drive…
December 16th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Do a 180.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Chuck Wagoner
Lighten Lutz
Dump all but three lines
Work!
December 16th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
A can of gasoline and a book of matches.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS…Return to Greatness is the answer.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Ten words? Can’t do it. I need at least…oh.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
It can’t, but if it could: sublime product.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
It can not be explained in 10 words or less
December 16th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
OK, all ready now. Detroit needs to change their…. damn!
December 16th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Get rid of their stupid cars or import stupid people.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
general motors best become specific with regard to motor vehicles
December 16th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Force Union Enema.
Encourage Engineering Bulimia.
Allow Executive Seppuku.
Done.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Build cars that you would buy with your own money.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Third try:
What GM does in ten words, Toyota does in seven.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Repeal the government laws that murdered them.
(But the first poster (autonut) is far more accurate and only 2 words)
December 16th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Through Process of elimination, Bankruptcy, Restructuring, and lots of Imagination.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Clone Bill Mitchell and fire the management.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Less brands & dealers, less labor & management, better marketing, cars & warranty.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Offer free oral sex for the lifetime of the car. Kidding.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
That’s 78 words too many.
Robert, scroll up to 3:21. I count 8, not counting line numbers.
The second comment wasn’t a contest entry.
What, me prolix?
December 16th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Reorganize in bankruptcy; be like Tesla — preorder the 2010 models.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Get:
-bankrupt,
-lean,
-new management,
-good marketing,
-rid of union!
December 16th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Prepackaged Bankruptcy
Nationalize Healthcare
Can Wagoner
Chevy & Cadillac only
December 16th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Make distinctive cars, keep cost and quality on par with competition.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Develop variable mobility, variable ownership, fast.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
When better cars are built, Buick will build them.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
If revenue = insolvency, then goto chapter 11.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Excellence without compromise.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Cut brands. Focus messages. Continually improve. Innovate. Don’t cut corners.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Flexible production. Non-combative supplier relations. Customer focused products. Babes.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Not quite what you asked for, but I’ll go with a quote:
“You see, I bought the Red Car so I could *dismantle* it.”
December 16th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Cut lean as well as fat. Then be patient.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Make good cars and don’t saturate markets, isn’t it obvious?
December 16th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Build cars people will buy. Sell them at a profit.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
hang a U
December 16th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Ego and hubris
prevent collective efforts.
Fuel is a poison.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
or,
resurrect Harley Earl
December 16th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Do what is right and do not fear failure.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Simple really: “Work Smarter, Not Harder.”
December 16th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
GM entered life
as a holding company.
No Entrepreneurs?
December 16th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Holydonut: I really liked your first haiku. My vote goes to you…
December 16th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Workers: Socialist Revolution
Bob Nardelli, Rick Wagoner: Special Prosecutor
FTW