Esoteric Survey

I went on a field trip to Scripps College, Claremont to see their amazing collection of post-war American ceramics. With me were  Eric Huff and Tom McMillin (yes the ceramicist). Kirk Delman, the Collections Manager and Interim Director at the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery at Scripps College gave us the tour.   Tom (left) is a legend in California ceramics and added so much to the experience. Not only did he know many of the artist in the collection, his technical knowledge of glazes and ceramics was a great insight to have. Kirk has been at Scripps for 37 years so he knows the collection better than anyone else. He also knew many of the artists personally and shared some great stories about them. This was a major craft geek experience for me and Eric.    The bulk of the Scripps ceramic collection came from Fred Marer. He was a math teacher at LA City College, so far from a rich guy. He built an amazing collection that began in 1954 when he went to an exhibit...

John Mason: Sculpture 1958 - 1964 Curated by Frank Lloyd at Kayne Griffin Corcoran Vase, 1958 The other side of the same vase Peter Voulkos, John Mason, and Paul Soldner at Otis Art Institute in 1956. Peter and John would share a studio space just a couple years later.  Image courtesy of Soldner Enterprises and Stephanie Soldner Sullivan via Getty.edu John Mason installation at the Ferus Gallery patio, 1957. This was the first of two Mason solo exhibitions held at the gallery. Mason at Ferus in 1959 Source:  The Ferus Gallery: A Place to Begin Mason at work in 1960 Source:  Photo: Robert Blacknum via   Kayne Griffin Corcoran 1960 1963 Orange Cross, 1963 1961 Or maybe 1960, according to the 1966  Abstract Expressionist Ceramics exhibition catalog White Cross, 1964 White Cross Late 1950s - early 1960s The exhibition ends August 26th