Esoteric Survey

Cosanti is located in Paradise Valley, just outside of Scottsdale, Arizona. Paolo Soleri started working on his earthcasting buildings at Cosanti in the mid 1950s. The North Apse (1964) The bell / lamp hanging from the North Apse. The Ceramics Studio (1958) The building in the background with the round windows is Soleri's drafting studio, now the Cosanti office. (1959). Paolo working at the ceramics studio Source: Life Magazine, 1966 Ceramics Studio dome. There are some nice old bells in there. Pool and Canopy, 1966 This is where Paolo takes his morning swims, though I was told that he doesn't go in the winter anymore. He believes the morning swims are good for his health.  At 93, there must be something to it.   Cat-Cast House (1965) door. Cat-Cast House (1965) with an incredible special assembly bell. South Courtyard Apse (1965) Barrel Vault attached to the Pumpkin Apse (1...

“I don’t see anything but a bunch of junk thrown together. And he calls that art! ... I think the man is sick" ... yeah me too : ) via: LACMA Unframed more: LACMA

The Eames Office had an exhibition of Ray Eames  paintings to celebrate the centennial of her birth . I was able to catch it on the final day.  The security guard saw me eyeing the little abstract at the end and posted up right next to it. The painting is from the 40s and is on board. The board is marked "evans" on the back. All the paintings in the exhibit can be seen in this book,  Changing Her Palette: Paintings by Ray Eames . One of the coolest things at the Eames office is a large bank of drawers that holds some of the files from Ray's office. Here is Ray Eames' office in 1976. I think those are the same files on the right. The X-mas drawer The Japan drawer

Object is a new shop in Los Angeles. The concept is  object-sized  vintage decorative arts. Object is the place you go to buy that one thing to sit on your favorite table that is so great it just has to sit there  in solitude  because  anything you sit next to it will look inadequate.   Scandinavian design dominates the inventory,  though Austrian Carl Auböck is an obvious favorite.  You'll also find some great Japanese and American objects as well.  The collection of rare  Auböck items were a real treat to see. Owner Brian Roark designed the shop and he has the hand-drafted plans to prove it. He also designed the displays,  which are  pretty amazing. Obviously the Soleri bell proves Brian knows what's what.  Brian joins fellow New York transplants Gerard O'Biern ( Reform Gallery ) and Greg Wooten ( The Window) on  Melrose Ave .   The three actually cut t...

  Ray Eames would have been 100 today. Image:  Vitra Image: Life Magazine To honor th e occasion, Vitra did something something for Ray. Image:  Eames Demetrios Eames Demetrrios with the newly-unveiled Ray Eames Street in  Weil-am-Rhein, Germany Image:  Eames Demetrios Image:  Vitra Ray was bo rn i n Sacramento, so it's on l y fitting that The California Museum will host Ray Eames: A Century of Modern Design .  The exhibition runs from February 23, 2013 -February 23, 2014   

Craig Elwood bunkbeds from the Hunt House, outfitted with Trina Turk bedding Image: Trina Turk More about the Ellwood Hunt house here , including some original photos of the beds.

Eames: Beautiful Details by   The Eames Office  and  Ammo Books   Yes, it's big, and it's also really good.  It covers all aspects of the brilliance of Charles and Ray, mostly through images.  Collage by Ray Love Ray From old man Charles to Lucia A wall in Ray's office Herman Miller, Beverly Boulevard showroom Nice rack Ray Eames painting that is still hanging in the Eames house. More about it  here .