Esoteric Survey

  Last week I visited the California Design auction preview at Los Angeles Modern's new space in Hollywood.  Sam Maloof is a staple and so is Stan Bitters, but who is that on the left? Yes, that is indeed a Lawrence Hunter clock. THE clock from California Design 76! Michael Cooper's Soapbox Derby Car , which is seen on the opposing page of California Design 76, is also in the sale. In 1975, the San Francisco Museum of Art held a fundraiser where they invited artists to build soapbox derby racing cars and trophies. This downhill racer was his entry.  It was later shown at the Pasadena Museum of Art's California Design 76, which was held at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.  Here is a small portion of the other artists who participated in the derby. I wonder what the Ruth Asawa piece looked like?  The  LAMA essay  includes a must watch video on the derby.  In October of the same year, Cooper had an exhibition of 14 works, mostly with wheel...

I took a trip up Highway 99 and stopped in Fresno again.  This is a sore topic around here. Although I drive down Fulton Street every time I'm in Fresno,  I haven't posted about it since  2016 .  Over the years  I've done many posts about the mall. The first was in  2010 .  The Fulton Mall in 1967 For a recap, in the mid-1950s Downtown Fresno merchants and city officials were looking for ways to revitalize the central business district. They hired Victor Gruen to create a visionary plan. With the help of legendary landscape architect Garrett Eckbo, they  created a grand pedestrian orientated design that linked the six-block business district to the civic center.  The Fulton Mall opened in 1964 (Happy 60th Anniversary) and was a nationally-recognized success, both commercially and in terms of design. The art at the Fulton Mall included 20 sculptures by artists  found in major museum collections. This includes large sculptures by Claire Fa...

  Back to regular scheduled programming. Stuff from the past few weekends. VKG Souvenirs from Mexico City Eames, Martz and Stan Bitters Josef Frank Good Design

  Stan Bitters for Hans Sumpf Malcolm Leland for Architectural Pottery, from the Barney Reid estate Paolo Soleri, La Gardo Tackett, Ed Cromey

Back at my favorite vista point on the way back from the Bay Area.  This time with a Robert Hanley for Modern Color Inc. floor vase. La Gardo Tackett Stan Bitters stool, Dean Santner jewelry boxes and a ceramic puzzle sculpture that opens up like a Russian doll. Victor Bisharat, Stan Hawk, Dora De Larios, Harrison McIntosh Irving Harper tray and some Euro stuff. Harvey Probber desk set and Carl Aubock Summerset Lounger