Esoteric Survey

Alpha + 2 (1984) by JB Blunk (1926–2002) Last weekend I made a delivery up to Thousand Oaks after a disappointing shopping trip to the Rose Bowl flea market. It was my first time in the city so I decided to visit Alpha + 2. The Thousand Oaks Grant R Brimhall Library (formerly Canejo) is home to the monumental three piece redwood sculpture by Blunk. The work was commissioned in the late 1970s as part of the original construction of the library. It was commissioned and funded by the the Thousand Oaks Art Commission.  The sculpture was selected based on a scale model that Blunk executed in clay. It was controversial at the time. There was a contingency who didn't think it was worth the $35,000 price tag when there was still a need to purchase more books. The City Council approved the funding 4 to 1. The sculpture was originally going to be placed in the children's section and was meant to be an "object of play."  Ultimately it would be placed in the foyer next to the mai...

   The William H. and Barbara Kaiser Levit House (1961) by Richard Neutra is the setting for the fourth BLAKEHAUS, curated by Peter Blake Gallery.  As described by the gallery, BLAKEHAUS BEVERLY HILLS is a site-specific installation traversing the disciplines of art, design, and architecture, bringing historically significant modern design and museum-quality contemporary art into dialogue with Neutra's geometric architectural sensibilities. Willy Guhl Scarpa, Angelo Mangiarotti and Pierre Laporte A classic Neutra fireplace KEM Weber Percival Lafer Ettore Sottsass and Carlo Mollino Sculpture by  Stephanie Bachiero The site is pretty incredible. The wildfires in LA were still burning when I was there so the view that day was eerily smokey. However, on a clear day, the San Gabriel mountains can be seen on one side, the skyline of downtown LA on another side and the Pacific Ocean can be seen from the poolside of the house. I remembered the name William Levitt a...

  Saturday, September 28th Symposium and Home Tour The third in a series celebrating Modern architecture in Bakersfield, Bakersfield Built: Architecture of the 1950s , will explore the most exciting decade in the city’s history. From a devastating earthquake to postwar population growth, local architects and a handful of internationally known architects transformed “America’s Newest City.”  The symposium will feature a panel of experts including: David Coffey, of the Bakersfield Built Foundation. Maristella Casciato, Senior Curator at the Getty Research Center, Frances Anderton, Author and former host of KCRW's design and architecture program, Alan Hess, noted architectural author, Sian Winship, President of the Society of Architectural Historians/Southern California Chapter, Volker M. Welter, Professor of Architectural History at UC Santa Barbara, Raymond Neutra, President of the Neutra Institute for Survival Through Design, John Berley, architectural designer involved in Neu...

The Kaufmann Desert House by Richard Neutra (1946) I finally made it inside! When the Kaufmann's lived there, the furniture was mostly Van Keppel Green and Eames DCM's. The DCMs were special.  Rosewood with exposed metal shock mounts. The house was finished in 1946 so it makes sense that they would be such early examples. They probably had the inside line through their son, Edgard Kaufmann Jr. (aka Mr. Good Design)  Source: The vintage photos are by Julius Shulman  © J. Paul Getty Trust. Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles (2004.R.10) There is still a lot of VKG. Let's head up to the gloriette. The Palm Springs Modernism Week tour bus pulled up when I was up there. In 1947 the neighborhood looked very different. Source: Julius Shulman  © J. Paul Getty Trust. Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles (2004.R.10) This is what their view looks like. I've been in front of the house more times than I'd care to admit. This photo actually was taken in September of last year....