California Design / LAMA

 

Last week I visited the California Design auction preview at Los Angeles Modern's new space in Hollywood. 

Sam Maloof is a staple and so is Stan Bitters, but who is that on the left?

Yes, that is indeed a Lawrence Hunter clock.

THE clock from California Design 76!

Michael Cooper's Soapbox Derby Car, which is seen on the opposing page of California Design 76, is also in the sale.

In 1975, the San Francisco Museum of Art held a fundraiser where they invited artists to build soapbox derby racing cars and trophies. This downhill racer was his entry.  It was later shown at the Pasadena Museum of Art's California Design 76, which was held at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles. 

Here is a small portion of the other artists who participated in the derby. I wonder what the Ruth Asawa piece looked like? 

The LAMA essay includes a must watch video on the derby. 

In October of the same year, Cooper had an exhibition of 14 works, mostly with wheels, in San Diego at Palomar College. 

Source: Daily Times Advocate

Other than mine, this is the only example of this model Maurice Martiné chair I've seen. The only other one I even know about belongs to the Baltimore Museum of Art. 

The top of the Gere Kavanaugh table seen to the right of the Martiné chair above.

C. Carl Jenning and Alma Allen. 

More about Jennings here and here. 

A really good Luther Conover chair.

Alma Allen sculpture, Walter Lamb, Dan Johnson and what must be the biggest David Cressey lamp ever made.  

Garry Knox Bennett Winged Heart Clock.  There are a number of pieces that came from his collection in the sale. At the preview, Brent Lewis told me that Bennett started a plating business to help in the production of his own work (like the roach clips). After the law changed regarding the sale of paraphernalia, they stopped selling the clip. The plating business continued and turned out to be a great revenue source.

That there is a really good Evelyn Ackerman mosaic. 

The California art sale at LAMA is the same day.  

Claire Falkenstein

A picture from the preview party.