Esoteric Survey

Wigwam Motel on former Route 66 in San Bernardino.  This is one of three surviving examples of a concept created by Frank A. Redford.  These type of roadside attractions were an obvious insensitive exploitation and whitewashing of Native American heritage. Even the name illustrates this sort of cultural homogenization. A wigwam is actually more of a dome shape compared to the co-opted teepee form used by Redford. There are conflicting stories regarding where Redford's inspiration for the design came from. This 1946 article in the San Bernardino Sun said he lived on a reservation as a boy. Although If he really did grow up on a Sioux Indian reservation you would think he may have known the difference between a wigwam and teepee. A few other sources state he was inspired by a teepee restaurant in long Beach. Some say an ice cream stand but perhaps it was Teepee BBQ that was on 2nd Street and Covina Avenue? Source: Monovisions This location would be the last "Wigwam Village"...

Very late Weekend Stuff. It was good stuff too. Hard to find double VKG daybed, AP, Sori Yanagi elephant stools and Isamu Noguchi lamp.

 Alvar Aalto, Lisa Johansson Pape  "Apila" Stool and some Scandinavian smalls. Tony Paul in the front and a mystery in the back. Robert Maxwell

Tijuana 1964: The Photography of Harry Crosby The Modern San Diego newsletter alerted me to this exhibition currently taking place at the La Jolla Historical Society . It has been extended to January 10th so there's still time to check it out. Harry Crosby moved to La Jolla in 1935 when he was just a boy.  He was as a science teacher at La Jolla High School in the 1950s and then pursued a career in photography.  One of his early assignments was to photograph Tijuana. This exhibition, Curated by Melanie Showalter, includes some of those photos. His photos were used in various publications during that era. Most of the photos in the exhibition are shot in a sort of documentarian style. There are a lot of wonderful images of what you'd expect to see in Tijuana-- craft vendors, taco stands and various street scenes. They're great but what about the architecture? Crosby documented that as well and this photo is one of the best examples.    The Instituto Mexicano del ...

Herman Miller fabric, Van Keppel-Green ottoman, Marg Loring owl, Paul Vokening and Howard Warner I'm really fortunate to have some works by Bob Matheny . And also a mask from Bob's wonderful wall of masks.  This photo is from a visit to Bob's house on New Year's day.  2020 has been rough.