Esoteric Survey

  Boundless: Reflections of the Southern California Landscapes in Midcentury Studio Ceramics explores how the physical, social, and political landscapes of the area shaped craft. Nearly 150 objects from Mingei’s permanent collection, set against large-scale photography, transport us to the breathtaking locations reflected in the ceramics. Through these landscapes and the awe-inspiring science of clay, glaze, and fire, this exhibition celebrates Southern California mid-twentieth century ceramics. Curated by  Guusje Sanders There are a large number of Laura Andreson pieces in the exhibition and there's a reason for that. Andreson started the ceramics department at UCLA in 1933. Over 5,000 students studied under her  until she retired in 1970. This includes Martha Longenecker in 1939, who founded Mingei International Museum in 1978.  In 1982, Mingei organized the exhibition Laura Andreson — A Fifty-Year Retrospective in Clay. It was curated by Mingei founder and then D...

  Mingei International Museum has just reemerged from a three year massive renovation led by architect Jennifer Luce . The project has actually been in the works since 2015. The transformation is incredible.   George Nakashima bench outside the library.  The library has moved upstairs and is now more accessible to the public. The shelving is Vitsoe, designed by Dieter Rams. I heard it might be one of the largest installations of Vitsoe ever done. I'm going to be spending a lot of time in the stacks. George Nakashima desk GLOBAL SPIRIT—Folk Art from the Ted Cohen Collection showcases folk art from more than 20 countries, highlighting a donation to the Museum by Oakland-based collector and exhibition designer, Ted Cohen. The Museum's board of director's Nakashima table grew.  Mira Nakashima was commissioned to add a new extension to the table. Art of the People for The People - O bjects from the Museum's collection. The focus is  Mingei’s roots in the early ...

William Chappelow at his Tryyn Gallery in Guatay, CA.  Bill is an amazing craftsman who specializes in wood kitchen implements. He's been at it since the early 1970s and his work is included in the Smithsonian permanent collection. Tryyn is a medieval term meaning "coming from the tree". The gallery is located in the mountains just 30 minutes east of San Diego in the tiny town of Guatay, which is on Historic Highway 80. The form and grain of the wood guides what the final piece will become.  Each piece is designed for a very particular use. I spent a lot of time reading the tags before selecting mine. Cream of wheat is one of my favorites.  Bill in his workshop, which is located behind the gallery. Bill's prefered machines are Walker-Turner band saws from the 1930s. He uses more than 250 types of wood in his work. As an avid environmentalist, he uses every scrap. At one point he was even using the sawdust in...