Esoteric Survey

Sol-Air tables by Pipsan Saarinen Swanson and Japanese ceramics

In 1977 Steve and Ruth Rieman purchased a plot of land in Yucca Valley, California. They fell in love with the landscape while camping and riding motorcycles (now reformed off roaders). The plan was to build a small habitat structure for a weekend retreat. At the time, they were living in Costa Mesa where Steve was running his design business and Ruth was working in the insurance industry. Stepping back a bit to 1976, Steve had graduated from Art Center and was working as an industrial designer. He submitted two chair designs for inclusion in the Pasadena Museum of Art's exhibition, California Design 76. Steve said he was initially rejected but asked curator Eudorah Moore to take another look because the photos he submitted didn't do the chairs justice. After seeing the chairs in person, Eudorah decided to include them. A photo of his low rocker was also included in the catalogue.  Rieman made twelve of the rockers by hand. This one still sits in their living roo...

Low rocker by Steve Rieman (as seen in California Design 76), Ben Sebel lamp and chair by Ray Komai. Lamps Joel Edwards and Barney Reid pottery Jens Risom Ephemera

This was the 20th Anniversary of the Palm Springs Modernism Show and Sale.  To celebrate Objects USA decided not to do the show.  I still attended as a tourist, so you would think I would have more time to document the show, go to lectures and tour homes. Well, that didn't happen. As you'll see here, I basically took photos down one row. Luckily it was the best one.   First off is  Archive . In addition to some rare Dunbar in the foreground, there was a fiber work by Tanya Anguiñiga .  Then there was Gio Ponti and artwork by avant-garde Laguna Beach artist Andy Wing . Sputnik always brings the heat from Texas. This time it included some Larry Hunter. This David Wurster lamp was one of my favorite things at the show. They also had two Cynthia Sargent pieces. Red Modern always has a great mix. This year it included a pair of Max Gottschalk lounges. Billings Auction with the Ponti. There were five auction houses...