Esoteric Survey

Myrton Purkiss: Paintings on Clay, 1930 - 1960 The Landing at  Reform Opening Reception: Thursday, February 7th, 6 - 9 pm On Display: February 7th - March 28th For the second show at The Landing, Gerard O'Brien is reaching into his private stash of  ceramics by Myrton Purkiss. Originally from Canada, Purkiss ended up calling Fullerton, California home. He studied under Glen Lukens at Fullerton High School  and at USC.  He was drafted into the allied forces in WWII and served as a cartographer in Europe where he extended his interest in ceramics  by visiting potters in England and France. As a 29 year-old veteran, Purkiss returned to Fullerton and opened a small ceramics  shop in his backyard.   Mryton's form of choice was the hand-painted plate.  That form was transformed into a clay painting with an addition  of a looped wire on the back after a woman  commented that his plates were too nice to use. Soon after,  Purkiss was being included in major ceramic

Grossman House, Claircrest Drive, Los Angeles Sadly, the house doesn't exist anymore. Image: Domus Grossman House, Claircrest Drive, Los Angeles Image: Domus Grossman House, Claircrest Drive, Los Angeles Source: Greta Magunusson Grossman: A Car and Some Shorts Claircrest Drive - I n color! Image: Domus Check out that  Tackett Associates for Freeman Lederman lidded bowl on the table. Image: Domus There it is again. Image: Domus Here's mine. It's probably Kenji Fujita. It's just signed with the Taclkett Associates mark. There's that sweet little prototype lamp near the front on the left.  Source: Domus Grossman House, Claircrest Drive, Los Angeles Source: Domus Grossman House, Claircrest Drive, Los Angeles Source: Domus

This weekend was the Los Angles Pottery Show A bulk of the show is this kind of pottery. Besides maybe some Catalina tile I can't tell you what any of this stuff is. I can tell you this is a mammoth Raul Coronel. This was in my friend Michael Hickman's booth. He is one of the four or so dealers  at the show who specializes in modern studio ceramics.  He also throws a good pot himself. I wish I would have taken a photo of one of his pieces.   He also had this really cool Michael Frimkess piece. A monster Frank Matranga lamp, also at Hickman's booth. Frank had a booth at the show with his newer work.  A really good Myrton Purkiss plate Who knew Harrison McIntosh did glass? A very limited number were done by Mikasa for a fundraiser. I knew about the dishes for Mikasa, but glass?  Those lines are classic McIntosh. It's  hand-signed . Marg Loring lamp. I really like that.  Look what I found... Doyle Lane weed

  Isamu Noguchi was a genius Source: Interiors, 1949

Typical airport art - Bust of Charles Lindbergh  What's that under the Spirit of St. Louis in Terminal 2 at Lindbergh Field? Snapshot in Sculpture: 1960's San Diego Midcentury Art. C urated by Dave Hampton  The exhibit includes work by Russell Baldwin, Jean Balmer, Barney Reid, Jack Boyd and many more.   It wouldn't be a Hampton production without some good ephemera.  Jean Balmer James Hubbell Erik Gronborg Joe Nyiri Jack Boyd Jean Balmer

Luther Conover with the Berkeley in the background.  Conover operated his Trade Fair gift shop aboard the Berkeley from 1960-1973. Photo:  CA Modern  magazine Yes, that Luther Conover The Berkeley was built in 1 8 98 and operated as a San Francisco ferry until it was retired in 1958.   Conover was a boat enthusiast.  He purchased the Berkeley in 1959 and a ccording to historic preservation  documentation he saved  the vessel from being converted into a marine animal processing plant . It's noted in that he took very good care  of it during the time he owned it.  The ship-shop was  located  at the Northwest Pacific Railroad ferry  slip in Sausalito. More than you ever wanted to know about the Berkeley can be found here . Trade Fair Catalog Photo:  CA Modern  magazine In 1973  Conover  sold the Berkeley to  the  San Diego Maritime Museum for $100,000.  It was towed  455 miles  to  San Diego  where it was restored.   The Berkeley is