Esoteric Survey

A reunion was held last weekend to bring together everyone who was involved in the Architectural Pottery: Ceramics for a Modern Landscape book and AMOCA exhibition . It was held at the home of Architectural Pottery co-founders Rita and Max Lawrence. Damon Lawrence and his wife now call it home and were amazing hosts. When Rita and Max Lawrence began their involvement with Architectural Pottery, they lived in a Gregory Ain house in the Mar Vista tract. They previously lived in the Ain Altadena tract and the Dunsmuir Flats apartments, where Damon was born. As Jeffrey states in the AP book, it was Ain who introduced the Lawrences to modernism.  The Lawrences were working with Ain to design a new home for the family in Bel Air, but were having issues with the City. In 1953 they moved into a Spanish Revival house in Bel Air, where the reunion was held. It was designed by Carleton Winslow Sr. He was part of  Bertram Goodhue's firm that designed the Los Angeles Central Library. On a...

Material Curiosity by Design: Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman   at the Craft Contemporary in Los Angeles Material Curiosity by Design explores the prolific careers of midcentury designers Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman in dialogue with select works by three contemporary artists. Celebrated for their vibrant contributions to California modernism, the Ackermans partnered for decades on bold designs that brought warmth to midcentury interiors. Showcasing their ceramic, textile, mosaic, wood, and metal creations alongside new works by Porfirio Gutiérrez, Jolie Ngo, and Vince Skelly, this exhibition sparks a dynamic conversation about materials, innovation, and craft. This exhibition is curated by Danielle Charlap and designed by Gary Wexler Design. The exhibition spotlights the process and materials used by the Ackermans. Here is Evelyn's drafting stool and desk. The desk was custom made for her in 1949 by their friend, architect Eugene Alexander. The pencils and chalk she used to design the...