Esoteric Survey

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...

Lecture Series & Documentary Screening Join the Museum of Ventura County on Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 2—4:00PM for an afternoon about modernist design, fine arts and crafts, and the creative individuals who made a lasting impact in design history. First, Guest Curators Eric Huff, Jordan Downs and Steve Aldana will participate in an insightful conversation with the Museum’s Chief Curator Anna Bermudez about their collaboration on the California Cool: Mid-century Modernism on the Central Coast exhibit. Following the discussion, Laura Ackerman-Shaw will share recollections about her parents’ personal and professional lives that intertwined during their 64-year marriage. Through their combined complementary talents and temperaments, the Ackermans forged a prolific partnership that produced a wide range of timeless designs including ceramics, mosaics, tapestries, woodcarvings, and hardware, an unusual cross-disciplinary approach for designer-craftsmen. Rounding out th...

California Cool: Mid-century Modernism on the Central Coast  opened last Friday at the Museum of Ventura County. Here are just a few pics. I'll do a more in-depth post later.  Ceramic sculpture by Santa Barbara-based artist Michael Arntz, on loan from The Landing .  Mosaic by Evelyn Ackerman , collection of Laura Ackerman.  Not only did the Ackermans have a long history collaborating with Central Coast-based companies Panelcarve and Forms + Surfaces, Evelyn designed a mural in Santa Barbara (below). Sea, Land, and Sky (1957) by Evelyn,  for a Louis Mazzeti office building on Victoria Street in Santa Barbara. Screen salvaged from a Rodney Walker house in Ojai that was the victim of an insensitive remodel. The screen is from the collection of Eric Huff. Architecture is a major component of the exhibition. The opening was a sell out.  California Cool: Mid-century Modernism on the Central Coast California Cool looks at ...