Posts

Boundless / Mingei

Image
  Boundless: Reflections of the Southern California Landscapes in Midcentury Studio Ceramics explores how the physical, social, and political landscapes of the area shaped craft. Nearly 150 objects from Mingei’s permanent collection, set against large-scale photography, transport us to the breathtaking locations reflected in the ceramics. Through these landscapes and the awe-inspiring science of clay, glaze, and fire, this exhibition celebrates Southern California mid-twentieth century ceramics. Curated by  Guusje Sanders There are a large number of Laura Andreson pieces in the exhibition and there's a reason for that. Andreson started the ceramics department at UCLA in 1933. Over 5,000 students studied under her  until she retired in 1970. This includes Martha Longenecker in 1939, who founded Mingei International Museum in 1978.  In 1982, Mingei organized the exhibition Laura Andreson — A Fifty-Year Retrospective in Clay. It was curated by Mingei founder and then D...
Read more

Weekend / Stuff

Image
  Euro clay and Raul Coronel
Read more

Doyle Lane / Southfield Michigan

Image
Did you know there was a monumental Doyle Lane mural in Michigan?  My recent trip to the water wonderland included a stop to see if  Lane's  Gold Arc  ceramic mural was still there.  It was commissioned for The B’nai David Synagogue Sanctuary, which was built in 1966--although the mural wasn't installed until 1968. The sanctuary was designed by Los Angeles architect Sidney Eisenshtat (1914-2004), which probably explains how a Lane mural ended up there. I believe this is his only large scale commission outside of California.  Also, this is a vintage postcard I bought online.  The complex is located in Southfield, an inner-ring suburb of Detroit. This was the third structure on the campus.  In 1959, Louis G. Redstone designed the first building in an International Style. Sidney Eisenshtat was Born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1914. His family settled in Detroit but moved to Los Angeles in 1926 in search of what was described as a "less anti-Semitic...
Read more

Weekend / Stuff

Image
Katherine Choy You would think after soaking in all the Saarinen magic at Cranbrook I would be able to come up with more than just a womb chair ottoman. Happy Tackett Thursday to those who observe.  
Read more

Eventually Everything Connects / Cranbrook Art Museum

Image
  Eventually Everything Connects: Mid-Century Modern Design in the US Inspired by Charles Eames’s quote, “Eventually everything connects: people, ideas, objects,” the exhibition   included over 200 works by100 designers and artists.  It centers on the Cranbrook Academy's role in the evolution of modern design along with emphasizing the often-overlooked contributions of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and designers of color. The exhibition at  Cranbrook Art Museum  an d accompanying book were curated by Andrew Blauvelt and Bridget Bartal. Near the beginning of the exhibition is the Wartime Experiments section, with pieces from the 1941  Organic Design in Home Furnishings  competition, which was sponsored b MoMA. On the left is a chair design  Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames submitted to the competition. This example has original upholstery and was donated to Cranbrook by the Saarinen family. Ralph Rapson rocker. He studied at Cranbrook and then worked a...
Read more