Esoteric Survey

Butaca Chair (1940)  by William  Spratling.  Chest by Elizabeth Jane Colter for the Fred Harvey Corporation. The chest was was used in the La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona. They are being exhibited in  Found in Translation: Design in California and Mexico, 1915–1985   at LACMA is part of PST: LALA .  The exhibition examines  design dialogues between California and Mexico. This includes Americans working in Mexico, Mexicans working in California and the cultural influences and exchanges between the two.    Frank Kyle chair from his Willow series (1953). Kyle was American, but worked in Mexico City. The Peineta chair (1952) by Canadian-born designer, Edmund Spence. He worked mostly in the United States, but for a time his furniture was produced by  Industria Mueblera S.A. of Mexico. Michael van Beuren , Don Shoemaker and Clara Porset all moved to Mexico from their respective countries. Van  Beuren and Shoemaker cam...

ARLINE FISCH – One of a Kind , at the Mingei International Museum is a retrospective of the artist's work, curated by Christine Hietbrink. Secret Chambers, 1976 Photo by Katie Gardner Photo: Lynn  Fayman Chased and fabricated sterling silver with repoussé, 1971. This one isn't in the exhibition. Source: Smithsonian American Art Museum Feathers, 1974 Photo by Katie Gardner The exhibition runs until January 7th.

  California’s Designing Women 1896-1986 BOOK SIGNING: Saturday, March 1, 2 to 5 PM At Boomerang for Modern , 2475 Kettner Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101 PARTICIPANTS: Writer-editor Bill Stern , executive director of the Museum of California Design, who is also the author of “California Pottery: From Missions to Modernism” with photographs by Peter Brenner (Chronicle Books, 2000) and “Mid-Century Mandarin: The Clay Canvasses of Tyrus Wong” with photographs by Peter Brenner (Museum of California Design, 2004). Marilyn Austin who, in the 1960s, designed large-scale Modernist ceramics for Architectural Pottery and large-scale Modernist fiberglass planters for Architectural Fiberglass. Later, Austin established her own interior design business, Design Austin. The San Diego-based Arline Fisch who creates wearable art. She is best known for her silver work, which is in the collections of major museums around the world. Judith Hendler who began making jewelry in ...

Eudorah M. Moore: The Journey of a Visionary  September 7 - October 26, 2013 Craft in America Center, curated by Jo Lauria  Eudorah Moore (1918-2003) Eudorah Moore  was the curator and director of the California Design exhibitions at the Pasadena Art Museum from 1962 to 1976.  She took over the program with CA Design 8.  Not only did she expand the exhibitions to include some mind blowing craft but the production of the program was also taken to a whole new level with those amazing art-directed hardcover catalogs.  Her impact on the craft movement was not limited to California Design.  She also lead exhibitions on topics such as Appalachian crafts, worked at the NEA and was an all around leader in her field. The exhibition, curated by  Jo Lauria , uses objects, ephemera, videos and photos to document Moore's lifelong legacy and commitment to the world of craft--California and beyond. At the opening...

Museum of California Design 2012   AWARD BENEFIT  and AUCTION   Sunday, September 23, 2 PM to 5 PM Los Angeles, California   The event will be honoring  some of the artists whose work is included in the  CALIFORNIA’S DESIGNING WOMEN 1896-1986 exhibit at the Autry:   Marilyn Kay Austin Renee Firestone Arline Fisch April Greiman Judith Hendler Gere Kavanaugh Cher Pendarvis Deborah Sussman MOCAD's benefits are always excellent and take place at a great piece of architecture. In 2010 the event was  held at the  Eames / Saairnen  Case Study House 9 for John Entenza.  It's also a great group of people who attend.  At past events I was able to meet David Cressey, Raul Coronel,  Evelyn and  Jerome Ackerman, and Julius Shulman- just to name a few.  The auctions include some really good items and the proceeds fund the  Museum of California Design. More information  abou...

Dave Hampton /  Objects USA   at  ART SAN DIEGO 2012 Hampton brought out some great artwork by  Fred Holle, James Hubbell, Sheldon Kirby, Bob Matheny and Russell Baldwin.   Erik Gronborg ceramics  /  Objects USA There's a Gronborg exhibit going on in Portland right now at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts: Refelecting on Erik Gronborg  Eames! Massive Gronborg piece too.  Those are more James Hubbell sculptures on the wood pedestal. I really like that smaller Fred Holle back there on the left. /  Objects USA The Eames rocker and LCM are nice early ones.     I hope that's a deal closing handshake /  Boomerang for Modern Kay Whitcomb enamel plaque /  Boomerang for Modern Richard Allen Morris drawing / RB Stevenson Arline Fisch sculptures / Taboo Studio   Photo of Arline Fisch / Taboo Studio I bet she wore that shirt to match the sculpture. She's cool lik...