访问ors to The Neon Museum often take notice of the striking mosaic behind the reception desk. 几, 如果有任何, know the story of the extraordinary man who designed it, 本•迈耶 an artist and accomplished amateur astronomer.
The colorfully tiled art piece in The Neon Museum 游客中心 displays just one of the multi-talented Mayer’s many skills. Born in 德国y and educated in England, he spoke five languages. In 1949, Mayer immigrated to Los Angeles, where he became a successful designer, astronomer, photographer, inventor and author.
1960年代的La Concha大厅， 经典的拉斯维加斯
Mayer founded 本·迈耶设计公司., which produced work for theaters and casinos, as well as government and commercial buildings. Among the firm’s projects were murals for the Norwalk, California Library, 警察局 还有弗兰克·辛纳屈的 Cal-Neva小屋 内华达州的太浩湖.
Norwalk Library Mosaic on view since 1969, HistoryLosAngeles
To Protect and to Serve mosaic 1977 by 本•迈耶 Los Angeles Central Police Station, 你在这里.com
Mayer’s collaboration with architect 保罗·里维尔·威廉姆斯 included not only the La Concha Motel lobby but 美国银行 branches in Long Beach and Van Nuys, California.
本•迈耶 and Millard Sheets Studio for 保罗·里维尔·威廉姆斯, 美国银行, Van Nuys on view since 1965, 亚当Arenson
据历史学家说 多萝西莱特, Mayer also designed the original logo for La Concha. 标志出现在 纸板火柴, 明信片 and even the carpet in the lobby.
His financial success as an artist allowed Mayer to pursue his true passion. He placed his son in charge of the design firm and dedicated the rest of his life to astronomy.
Mayer’s career as an “amateur” astronomer would be the envy of many professionals. For Mayer, being an amateur was not a handicap:
“对我来说, 业余爱好者这个词, which stems from the word amore, 来自爱这个词, is a delightful word and I think no place is it better used than astronomy, where the amateur since the beginning of time has done truly meaningful and useful work because he or she observes with no prejudice because he has no brownie points to rack up. He doesn’t have to give a paper on Monday. He is a lover—he does it for love.”
本•迈耶 at his observatory with his Celestron 14, Polaris Observatory Association
While attempting to record a meteor shower in 1975, he accidentally took the first series of photographs to capture a nova (an exploding star) from beginning to end. He accomplished this feat using homemade equipment which he later patented and then donated to the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. 他也是 first person to produce a complete set of color photographs of a collection of an astronomical phenomenon called the Messier galactic objects.
本•迈耶 Gallery of Messier Objects, Polaris Observatory Association
梅耶尔的聪明才智 led to many inventions that made astronomy accessible to a wider audience. Starting with only a coat hanger and plastic wrap, he developed hand-held aids for stargazing.
Mayer was also a prodigious author. He wrote numerous articles and four books on astronomy, including “The Cambridge Astronomy Guide威廉·利勒.
For his contributions to the field, Mayer received the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Amateur Achievement Award 在1982年 asteroid is named in his honor. Mayer died in Los Angeles in 2000.
本•迈耶 Envel设计
本•迈耶 reminds us that spectacular displays of light can take many forms. In his words: “Go out some night…to a dark-sky location and look at the heavens. It’s like a sky filled with diamonds spread out on a velvet black cloth—and anybody can play in this sandbox filled with diamonds.”
额外的链接:
Astronomical Photography by 本•迈耶
Problicom Sky Survey, 本•迈耶’s amateur astronomical organization
