Esoteric Survey

80th Scripps College Ceramic Annual Starting in 1945, Scripps College has been mounting these legendary annual exhibitions. This year, they combined two major California collections for  In the Hands of the Collector: The Fred Marer and Forrest L. Merrill Collections.  Guest curated by Nancy Servis, there are over 100 pieces by more than 60 artists. Fred donated his collection of over 1,500 pieces to Scripps. Forrest has over 4,000 and counting. They both acquired many works directly from the artists and California ceramics are at the core. Since Fred was in southern California, these direct purchases came from people working at Otis and other institutions around LA. Forrest started his collection through direct purchases in the Bay Area, since he's from Berkeley. He's also still at it.   There are some classics. This Laura Andreson teapot is the first piece collected by Fred Marer.  Glen Lukens Antonio Prieto from Forrest James Lovera was so good and is still s...

"Statement Piece: Erik Gronborg and Ehren Tool”  at the ASU Art Museum Brickyard / Ceramics Research Center The Gronborg section  Gronborg  Gronborg with Ehren Tool in the background. Right before this, a mysterious person came out of a back room to tell the docent on duty to tell me that I couldn't take photos with my camera. I could only use my phone. Anyway, the rest of the photos of the Gronborg pieces and all of the Ehren Tool pieces came out so bad that I didn't post them. It's always better in person anyway.  The exhibition runs through November 21st. Robert Arneson Here are the blurry images of the museum's permanent collection.  Jun Kaneko Takaezu Toshiko There were a number of these Karen Karnes ceramic chairs around the gallery Marilyn Levine clay bag Peter Voulkos says hi This Soleri bell was donated by Ben goo Hans Coper. They have a ton of Lucie Rie on display too. Jun...

The Dorothy Weiss collection is part of the Bonhams 20th Century sale , which will be happening tomorrow. Dorothy Weiss (on the left) was a mover and shaker in the art world, as evident in this picture where she's hanging out with Peter Voulkos.  Source: Bonhams   Along with the amazing Voulkos pieces seen in the top photo, her collection included pieces by Jun Kaneko, Ruth Duckworth,  Rudy Autio, Viola Frey, the Natzlers, and Philip Cornelius (seen here).  Ruth Duckworth Dorothy had some amazing stuff, but she didn't have this one.  This is one of the two Jack Rogers Hopkins chairs in the auction. The piece on the wall is by Robert Arneson.  Jack Rogers Hopkins from the back. Jack Rogers Hopkins #2 Cork top Sam Maloof table. Eames and Nelson A pair of Evelyn Ackerman mosaics among more Eames and Nelson. That's Jerry Ackerman giving his seal of approval. He identified...