Cool Outside / California’s Mid-Century Landscape
Cool Outside – California’s Mid-Century Landscape
The Studio at Marin Art and Garden Center presents, “Cool Outside” – an exhibition of the work of Robert Royston and other visionary designers. It was curated by JC Miller.
The exhibition includes many original examples of furniture designed by Robert Royston, which are extremely hard to find. The Royston-designed table was executed recently.
Such a simple and great design.
Royston planters
The wall displays include some great ephemera.
A Lobachi wheeled deluxe model by Warren Musser (inventor and manufacturer).
Royston lounge and Luther Conover stools/tables.
Muriel Coleman table and Luther Conover lounge.
It's hard to talk about midcentury landscape without mentioning Architectural Pottery.
Kimball Fiberglass bowl and planter.
Donnell Garden in Sonoma, designed by landscape architect Thomas Church, with Lawrence Halprin and architect George Rockrise. This was perhaps one of the first biomorphic pools in the US.
And Stan Hawk was also on the scene.
Another Thomas Church project.
I wonder who did that?
The Alcoa Design Forecast program, which included two books, promoted the use of aluminum in design. Alcoa's Design Forecast program showcased design-oriented applications, all made from aluminum. It included work by Charles Eames, Paul McCobb, Greta Grossman, Florence Knoll, Austin Cox, Lester Beall, and Isamu Noguchi.
Alcoa asked Garrett Eckbo to design a garden utilizing aluminum. This fountain was one of the components he designed for the program.
That's an Edith Heath tile piece on the wall. Royston and Heath collaborated on the design of the exterior space around her house, The Barge.
Landscape plan for Heath-Leek site (The Barge)
Source: Robert N. Royston/RHAA Collection (1999-12)
Cool Outside – California’s Mid-Century Landscape runs until August 22nd.
As a co-author of at least a couple books on Robert Royston, a collector of California postwar modern design and an accomplished landscape architect, it's no surprise JC did an incredible job on this exhibition. The venue also couldn't have been better!
The Marin Art and Garden Center has a rich history of midcentury architecture of its own. In 1947 an informal master plan was designed by landscape architect Thomas Church. There's also a playground designed by Royston. Wurster, Bernardi & Emmons drafted another master plan but it was never fully realized. However, Don Emmons designed several buildings, including the Livermore Room and the Decorations Guild Building.
This is for Irene, my antique rose collector friend.