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Tucson Modernism Week / 2025

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Tucson Modernism Week is happening November 4th - 9th. The list of events looks amazing. This year’s home tour has six residences and two exclusive bonus stops, Architects and designers include Judith Chafee, Bruce Goff, William Wilde, Charles Clement, Ralph Haver, and Russ Symes.  I've been wanting to see inside the Goff Barby House house forever. I wonder if it still looks like this?? The carpet is wild. In addition to the home tour, the are a number of lectures and exhibitions. To celebrate the acquisition of the Bondante House by the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, there will be a special exhibit on Charles Clement at the house, which he designed. The house joins the  Ball-Paylore house (1952) by Arthur T Brown as part of their collection.  Charles Clement maquette More about Tucson Modernism, here . In addition to all of that, Tucson is just awesome. Make sure to go see A Z Modern , Saturday Generation  and Holt Modern when you're in town.  Check...
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The Smith House / Frank Lloyd Wright

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The Smith House by Frank Lloyd Wright (1950) Located in Bloomfield Hills, this Usonian was commissioned by two school teachers, Sara Stein Smith and Melvyn Maxwell Smith.  In 1939, during a graduate art history class at Wayne State University, Melvyn was inspired by a presentation on Wright's Fallingwater. Immediately in class, he declared his intention to have a house designed by Wright. Sarah and Melvyn were married in 1940. The Smiths went to meet with Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin in 1941 and he agrred to design a home for them. The project was delayed when Melvyn was drafted into the Army. He served from 1942 to 1945.  The couple used their entire saving to purchase the site in 1946 and Wright delivered the plans in 1947. Melvyn acted as the general contractor to save on costs. The Smiths must have been the most likeable couple because all the trades people and suppliers gave them generous deals. Even the notoriously arrogant and abrasive Wright was smitten by them. Arch...
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Downtown Modernism / Fall 2025

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October 26th, 2025 Market Hours are from 8AM-2PM Admission is $10 Cash Dogs Welcome! 2901 Saco St. Los Angeles, CA 90058 Downtown Modernism will go on rain or shine! I'll be in space 52. Bring your dog! More information here.
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Weekend / Stuff

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  Pepe Mendoza fishy Michael Lax and Heath Ceramics
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MillerKnoll / Archives

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While in Michigan, I visited the MillerKnoll Archives .  Amy Auscherman, Director of Archives and Brand Heritage at MillerKnoll, has been hard at work since I was there a decade ago. In addition to adding the Knoll archive to her workload, there is now a full fledged design museum. The collection starts in the 1920s and includes contemporary pieces.  Charles and Eero are sort of back together now. I guess Florence Knoll was stockpiling sculptures by her Cranbrook buddy, Harry Bertoia. There were several stashed away in a warehouse in Pennsylvania. They came with the Knoll archive when Herman Miller acquired the company in 2021. This is so good and rare Gilbert Rohde The strap area with Rapson rocker, Risom high chair and the rest is Sorensen.  I believe this is the same chair Eliel Saarinen died in at his house in Cranbrook. The death womb! It was the second Womb Chair ever made.  Eero gave it to his mother,  Loja. This chair sold at Wright from the collection o...
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