Esoteric Survey

Bob Matheny, Wabi Sabi (detail), 2016. Letterpress on paper, Series of 100 Photo: Stan Hodge, Manager of Art Direction at Convair-Astronautics, showing employees at work in the art department, c. 1960s. Print Culture: Midcentury Modern Graphic Design Featured artists include John Baldessari, Tom Gould, Bill Noonan, James Boynton, Bob Matheny, Barney Reid and Jim Sundell. Print Culture is organized by guest curator Dave Hampton. Art Gallery - 9th Floor, Central Library Dec. 10, 2016 - Feb. 26, 2017 Opening Reception: Saturday, Dec. 10, from 12 PM - 2 PM More information can be found, here . 

Kyoto has the best alleys. That's where I discovered Books & Things.   Across town is Ukishima Garden, a vegan restaurant with Daisaku Choh/Junzo Sakakura chairs! I had ramen and these vegetables, served on a great ceramic plate. Toji Temple Flea Market The first thing I bought was a woodblock print of the Hiroshima Peace Bridge (1952), designed by Isamu Noguchi.  There are actually two Noguchi bridges leading to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Speaking of parks, check out this slide in Kyoto.

Kurt Versen lamp and an extremely long and early George Nelson Bench.  Fiber

The annual Objects USA sale was this weekend. The event, which has been happening for a decade, is still going strong. Richard Allen Morris is always part of the show, in person and with pieces like this incredible 1959 painting.  Walter Chapman, Erik Gronborg and Paolo Soleri Keith York from Modern San Diego is always a big supporter of Object USA.

Loch Crane  Loch Crane's Taliesen Apron Loch's hanten Van Keppel Green Sol Bloom "Trough" David Cressey Pots Californian Italian

Since 1972, the  Yanagi Shop has been located down a small quiet alley in Tokyo The shop sells new products that were designed by Sori Yanagi (1915-2011) There are also many vintage nuggets on display, but unfortunately not for sale. A great old Aalto stool, with a Yanagi pad.  I really wanted to buy the 1960 Yanagi tape dispenser. They still use it at the shop. Sori Yanagi's office in 1960

On May 08, 2104, this "Rod Iron & Leather Side Chair. Wood Arms California" was sold at Michaan's auction .  The estimate was $1,000 to $1,200 and it  sold for $2,500. Of course all "unknown" iron furniture comes from California.  Well, it turns out "The Putney Chair" was from The Putney Graduate School of Teacher Education in Putney, Vermont Source:  FleaBay

OBJECTS: FALL16   Vintage Art Exhibition and Sale   Ronis Fine Art  -  1946 Broadway, San Diego, CA

Eames Splint (1942) More stuff Jens Risom Riki Watanabe and a California Walnut wastepaper basket

Shizuoka Press and Broadcasting Center (1967) by Kenzo Tange . This 12 story building was the first realization of Metabolism. T hirteen individual office modules are connected in clusters to a central core.   Like the Nakagin , the design allows for additional modules to be "plugged in". Source: Class Connection The Metabolist idea of the  structure growing, reproducing, and transforming in response to the environment has yet to happen for Shizuoka. No modules have been added since it opened in 1967.  I'm still optimistic.