Esoteric Survey

San Diego Modernism: Furniture and Arts for Daily Living at Palm Springs Modernism - Tues Feb, 21st @ 1PM San Diego's unique culture of post-WWII art, design and architecture remains one of American modernism's best kept secrets. Dave Hampton reveals how it shaped the ‘California Design’ program. Photo: Doors by Svetozar Radakovich and Carl-Ekstrom, photo by Lynn Fayman Designed to complement and contextualize the film and panel discussion following this presentation, Jack Rogers Hopkins: California Design Maverick (below), Dave Hampton will talk about the design and making of Furniture and Architectural Elements –murals, doors, grilles, lanterns, windows, fountains, gates, handles, fireplace surrounds, etc.– in San Diego, connecting this work to San Diego's unique culture of modernism and architecture, from Irving Gill to Lloyd Ruocco, Sim Bruce Richards and Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, and illustrate furniture by John Dirks; Larry Hunter; Jack Rogers Hopkins; Wendy Maruyama; D...

Smalls - Robert Maxwell critters, Robert Long for Stuart Barnes lamp and a George Nelson clock Wood animals by John Dirks Dirks, Tackett and Woolley

Plastic reinforced sphere aquarium that Gilbert A. Watrous designed for the San Diego Children's Zoo.  Yes, it's the same Gilbert A. Watrous (1919-1991) who designed this Heifetz lamp, which won a special prize at the MoMA Lamp Competition in 1951.  Source:  MoMA MoMA Lamp Competition Source:  MoMA Gilbert in 1951   Source: MoMA Back to the zoo... Watrous was part of a San Diego dream team led by Lloyd and Ilse Ruocoo. John Dirks, J. Swiggett, B. Wand, William “Bill” Noonan, and Charles “Chuck” Faust, the Zoo’s designer, worked on the design of the San Diego Children’s Zoo. It opened June of 1957.  Source: San Diego Zoo The zoo was wild back then! Source: Life Magazine Source: Life Magazine In 1959, some new exhibits and features were added to the Children's Zoo, including the Clark Children's Theater. The petting zoo. Source: San Diego Zoo Brian Wilson was there i...

In the Abstract at  Oceanside Museum of Art Curated by Dave Hampton Jack Rogers Hopkins  Marj Hyde, Russell Baldwin, Malcolm Leland and  Barney Reid. John Dirks Russell Forester Jack Boyd Toza Radakovich  Ellamarie & Jackson Woolley and Bob Matheny As you can see, the exhibition is incredible.  In the Abstract Oceanside Museum of Art August 15 – November 1, 2015