Esoteric Survey

  George Nelson for Herman Miller Cart, Earthgender Lantern Edmond Spence tables, Martz lamp and a  Wood block map of Traditional Rural Potteries in Present-day Japan by Serizawa Keisuke Val Robbins photographs and a Navajo rug David Gilhooly donut Glen Lukens and a ceramic piece from Guanajuato, Mexico

I made it out to Arizona one last time before Summer. I was able to tour a special house by Robert Swaim.  Dr. Edward Gelardin, a psychiatrist, interviewed a number of architects when he moved to Tucson and decided to build a house in what is still a relatively remote part of the desert near Saguaro National Park East. Robert J Swaim was selected and the house was completed in 1972.  The 1,778 SqFt single store residence sits on 3+ acres. Dr, Gelardin has been the sole owner of the house and has taken amazing care of it. I don't even hate the purple carpet. The kitchen is usually the first thing to get altered and this one is still in original condition. I really hope whoever buys this house has enough sense to leave it that way. If you want the opportunity to own this special house and promise not to change a thing, you should reach out to Darci Hazelbaker . The torch cut sculpture and light fixtures are by Wanda Corrine Hill, a Tucson transplant from California. Robert Swaim move

Iron: Fire dogs and a catch all Frank Bros box and George Nelson trays Inrepace ashtray In 1962, Gladding, McBean & Company merged with Lock Joint Pipe Company, forming International Pipe and Ceramics Corporation, or Interpace. Millard Sheets was hired as a consultant to Interpace in 1963. Big names in ceramics, like Harrison McIntosh, Rupert Deese, Jerry Rothman, and Dora De Larious were hired as designers for the company. Henry Takemoto was hired as a full-time dinnerware designer in 1969. Ken Price served as a consultant in the research & development group.  Sadly the building was demolished and it's now a Costco.  Before Interpace, the building was Gladding, McBean & Co's Los Angeles dinnerware and tile plant. Before that  it was Tropico Pottery Works. Tortured pot, Wayne Chapman plates, Bauer bisque planter. 

The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center  is a five-story building designed by Kazumi Adachi, Kiyoshi Sawano, and Hideo Matsunaga. The one-acre brick-paved plaza was designed by Los Angeles Native, Isamu Noguchi. "This plaza, a gift from the City of Los Angeles to the people of Little Tokyo, was designed by Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) and dedicated on July 26, 1983. Crowning the plaza is the monumental sculpture by Noguchi, entitled "To the Issei" as a tribute to the first generation of Japanese who immigrated to America. To the Issei , by Isamu Noguchi  "Organizing the plaza as a focal point, To the Issei venerates the founders of the Japanese American community with two 12' long basalt rocks that harken back in material and form to traditional Japanese rock compositions. One rock lies horizontal, suggesting repose, and the other, standing upright but slightly tilted to form a diagonal line that is a Japanese symbol for mankind, evokes heroic power.

A great design on this closed form by La Gardo Tackett