Esoteric Survey

Doyle Lane : Master of Clay at the Huntington Art Museum, Library and Botanical Gardens. This is the first major museum retrospective on Doyle Lane (1923–2002). It's long overdue and certainly won't be the last. The exhibition was curated by Lauren Cross, who also wrote the accompanying book , which you need to get.  Most people know Lane's weed pots and maybe even the clay paintings, but this exhibition includes the whole breadth of his work. He made everything from ashtrays, lamps, bowls, beads, and even metalwork.  The book adds so much to what we know about Doyle. Lauren writes about Lane's childhood and time before moving to California, which hasn't been explored before. There is so much firsthand information about Lane, the person, from friends, relatives and in his own voice. The interviews are some of my favorite parts of the book. Reading transcripts of Doyle going into depth about his glaze process is next-level craft geek stuff. This post is more of an o...

Things I picked up at Mod Swap. It was super fun. Box by Doyle Lane Marj Hyde painting from 1973 Not from Mod Swap: Umanoff magazine stand, David Stewart and Sea Ranch

  Early Doyle Lane vase The Doyle Lane came with Ralph Bacerra and Vivika and Otto Heino pots. These three all came together which is interesting because both Lane and Bacerra studied under Vivika. In the new Doyle Lane Book , Lane didn't have good things to say about the Heinos. David Stewart and Peter Shire Bronze produce California Design 11 poster and books.

I had a good weekend. Getting pieces by Henry Takemoto and Doyle Lane on the same day doesn't happen often. It's funny that the Takemoto has weed pots on it ann the Lane isn't a weed pot. The cups are by James Makins.  George Nelson, Carl Aubock and Paolo Soleri.  Knoll tables and smalls. I'm not really a Danish guy. However, these are my favorite salt and pepper grinders. They're designed by Kristian Vedel. And if they're good enough for Sori Yanagi, they're good enough for me. Source: The Philosophy of Design. Essays by Sori Yanagi A new one for my ceramic mask wall. It's been a while.  Here's another look at the Lane bowl. The weed pots get all the attention and I get why. However, I like all utilitarian and odd ball pieces as well.  Plus, the world must have known I needed more Lane in my life. They picked up my loans to the Huntington today. They'll be gone until February. More about the exhibition here: Doyle Lane: Master of Clay

Last weekend I visited the new Geffen Galleries at LACMA. The project was designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. It's been in the works for two decades! It's so LA to have a car in the museum, which obviously the point. It's a really good example of an Avanti, as is the Ruth Asawa. I love this huge ceramics table, especially the lack of acrylic. Doyle Lane bowl They painted the metal brackets to match the glazes. Another Lane A big Natzler. Bernard Kester with Laura Andreson is a nice LA moment. Beato is in the front right. John Mason I took some photos of some older things too, like this Mayan ceramic from 400-600 CE. The plastics room. Kay Sekimachi These college buddies were also in the plastics gallery. Clock by Frank Cumming III Long Chair by Marcel Breuer DCW by Charles and Ray Eames With a nice Evans paper label from 1947-ish. Dora De Larios The Dora sculptures line the walkway that crosses over Wilshire. The Latin American design section Lina Bo Bardi Quilts on ...