Esoteric Survey

Eames talk and signing with Daniel Ostroff for his book, An Eames Anthology . The event was hosted by  Boomerang for Modern . Ostroff's presentation included a photo of the  pet octopus  at the Eames Office when they were working on a proposal with  Kevin Roche, John Dinkeloo & Associates for a National Aquarium in Washington D.C. The aquarium project was funded, but President Nixon pulled the plug. Now I know why they called him Tricky Dick. He is officially my least favorite President. Charles should have socked him for that move. Daniel signed my book.

Join all the San Diego Eames nerds this Saturday, May 30th for a book signing and talk with Daniel Ostroff. The event is being hosted by  Boomerang for Modern , which is celebrating their 30th year in business!   Books will be available for purchase.

See you at Boomerang for modern  on the 30th

Mingei   Please be Seated  The survey includes over 100 examples of seating from  a wide range of cultures and time periods. Early modern, Bauhaus, Memphis and contemporary.   Eames Lawrence Hunter, from Dave Hampton's ( Objects USA ) collection Isamu Noguchi rocking stool from  David Skelly's ( Boomerang ) collection.  Maurice Martine -- that's mine My Eugene Weston stool looks pretty important on that pedestal  Douglas Deeds, 1961  Japan  Seating from long ago and far away. There's a lot more to see, including seating by George Nakashima, Sam Maloof, Sori Yanagi, Hans Wegner, and many more. Rob Sidner, the Musuem’s director, curated the  exhibit and really put together a fine group of examples. Please be Seated   is on view until February 9th. Also, If you haven't seen  C. CARL JENNINGS, CALIFORNIA ARTIST-BLACKSMITH , this is  your chance t...

Boomerang for Modern  is celebrating its 28th anniversary this year. In honor of the occasion, owner David Skelley and his partner Kurt opened up their home for a little anniversary party.  They  have a collection  that few can top.  I have the sneaking suspicion David has been skimming off the top at Boomerang for the whole 28 years!  I could probably do a month or two of posts on all the insane design  David and Kurt get to live with, but roaming around taking pictures of it all probably would have been poor party etiquette. Not to mention I didn't  want to  be the guy who looked like he was casing the place. Needless to say, David has been a central figure in the San Diego mid century modern scene before there was actually a scene to speak of. T he guests at the party were an indication of this long history. I'm not sure how I got in with this crew but  there were museum fo...

The Pasadena Museum of California Art  (PMCA) presents  Greta Magnusson Grossman: A Car and Some Shorts , a retrospective on design by  Greta Magnusson Grossman (1906-1999).  The exhibit runs until February 24, 2013. No photos! Good thing the PMCA posted some nice photos of their opening event for the exhibit.  Much of the exhibit came from the Grossman estate, via R Gallery .  There is a ton of ephemera, original drawings,  rare designs and one of a kind prototypes.    If I could take one thing home, it would be that prototype lamp in the case with the Grossman textiles. Image Source:  The Pasadena Museum of California Art   There's Evan Snyderman from  R Gallery .    Image Source:  The Pasadena Museum of California Art   Image Source:  The Pasadena Museum of California Art   I don't know who all these people are, but I do know that...

Dave Hampton /  Objects USA   at  ART SAN DIEGO 2012 Dave Hampton /  Objects USA Dave Hampton /  Objects USA Dave Hampton /  Objects USA Bob Matheny, Guy Williams Dave Hampton /  Objects USA James Hubbell sculptures Dave Hampton /  Objects USA James Hubbell sculpture Dave Hampton /  Objects USA James Hubbell sculpture Boomerang for Modern Grace Lane Gallery Really good and big  Emerson Woelffer. Not so good photo. Grace Lane Gallery DeWain Valentine   The Gallery owner told me these were originally designed to be hung horizontally on a wall.      I forget which booth this was in.  Another DeWain Valentine

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...