Esoteric Survey

  This past weekend AMOCA hosted a Panel discussion as part of the  Architectural Pottery: Ceramics for a Modern Landscape exhibition. It was a packed house. Someone from the museum said it was the most people they've had for an event like this. The first panel included three people who were personally connected to the Architectural Pottery.  Jo Lauria on the far left curated the exhibition and moderated the talk. To her right is Lee Whitten, then Marilyn Kay Austin in the middle and Damon Lawrence is on the right. Lee Whitten earned a master's degree in 1964 at UCLA under Laura Andreson and Bernie Kester. His first job in ceramics was at Architectural Pottery working under David Cressey. He was recommended to David by Andreson. This photo is a planter Cressey let Lee buy for $1.50, his hourly wage at the time. Lee said he liked the process of pushing the clay out from the interior of the form. Earth Cells were another favorite of his.  Although he was only at ...

  Van Keppel-Green matchbook Po-Mo mirror, Ikebana from Japan and Seymour Robins trash can It's pretty good if you're into this kind of thing

  Isamu Kenmochi Kathuo Mathumura for Yamaguchi. At least that is what the label says. The designer is really  Katsuo Matsumura. Obviously a letter was switched in translation. I had a set of tables before with the same incorrect label.  Eames ESU, another second series. Van Keppel Green Stools: Isamu Kenmochi and iron and leather Sori Yanagi pitcher and George Nelson (Irving Harper) Boltabest tray   Japanese iron and La Gardo Tackett  A California trio of Tony Hill, Elizabeth Madley, and Bob Stocksdale Kurt Versen and Gerald Thurston Early Soleri bell It was a good weekend!!

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....

  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