Esoteric Survey

  Inside the Design Center at Mingei International Museum There is another Dave Hampton curated exhibition coming up at Mingei. Todd Pitman and I are also lending a hand. Ilse and Lloyd Ruocco’s Design Center, located in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego, was a foundation for the modern design community of the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. Inside the Design Center brings to life a vignette of mid-twentieth century interior, lighting, and furniture design, featuring pieces by significant California designers, manufacturers, and craftspeople as selected by Ilse Ruocco for her 1950 showroom. This exhibition offers an immersive, revelatory window into San Diego’s culture of modernism through the lens of architecture, design, interior decorating, home goods retailing, landscape architecture, graphic design, and photography. Historic images of the Design Center set the backdrop for over 30 original pieces of modernist furnishings. Works by designers such as Ray Eames, Charles Eames, Greta...

Nelson Residence (1958) by Lloyd Ruocco One of Ruocco's "Garden Villas" Mailbox John Dirks did some stereos for Ruocco projects. This might be one.  Now that's a lock On top of being in near original condition, it comes with the plans. The house was for sale, but it looks like it might have been purchased.  I hope it lands in good hands.

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...

This is where I usually post the mid-century stuff I picked up over the week. Instead, we're dealing with some civil rights issues that should have been laid to rest in the mid-century. On January 21, over 5 Million people all around the world  marched with this vision:    We stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families - recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country. San Diego had a strong showing, with tens of thousands of people meeting at the Civic Center, seen here around the fountain by Malcolm Leland. The San Diego Civic Theater (1965) by Llloyd Ruocco is in the background. Women's March - San Diego Photo: Instagram user  killemallwithkindness   Librarians are even pissed!  That's a  Leland relief up there.    Photo: Instagram user  beblissbound Hundreds of thousand marched i...

The Linton House (1955) by Lloyd Ruocco and the client, electrical engineer Russ Linton.  Photo: Darren Bradley Photo:  Darren Bradley Photo:  Darren Bradley Here is a cell phone shot I took when I toured it last week. This post and beam structure with tongue in groove ceilings is in incredible original condition.  Douglas Fir plywood panels and cork flooring are used throughout the house. So are the custom corrugated fiberglass lighting fixtures. The use of modest materials is what modern for the masses was all about and this application is amazing. House flippers and anyone with thoughts of "updating" need not apply.  The owners of the house are looking for the right caretakers to preserve this one owner gem.  Modern San Diego will be hosting an open house Thursday, June 25 between 5-7 p.m. at 2524 44th Street, 92105. 

Bobertz Residence by  Craig Ellwood Modern San Diego Wexler Residence by Lloyd Ruocco Photo: Iris Lillie Residence by Lloyd Ruocco Photo:  Vedre Landscape Design  Harry Gesne Volume 1 is  here Volume 2 is  here