Esoteric Survey

La Gardo Tackett chicken bowl

Best Kept Secret: The Scripps College Ceramic Collection at  The American Museum of Ceramic Art   The Scripps Collection is legendary. It was almost singlehandedly complied by Fred Marer,  a math professor at Los Angeles City College. He amassed the collection with modest means, mostly through buying the pieces directly from the artists. The exhibition includes over 180 examples, and all are amazing. The exhibition only lasts 10 more days, so I encourage you to do whatever it takes to go see it. I've seen a lot of good pots, but this exhibition is legendary.   There is an enormous wall of 39 plates Michael Frimkess Paul Soldner - "Throwing Naked" - 1966 Fumio Tagasugi Jun Kaneko Peter Voulkos - One of many in the exhibition Stacked Voulkos Monster Voulkos Little Voulkos Bird Voulkos Walking Voulkos Jun Kaneko Robert Arneson Henry Takemoto Another great Takemoto One mor...

I had the opportunity to hang out with Marilyn Kay Austin this past weekend. Most people reading this will know her from her design work at Architectural Pottery.  Marilyn graduated with an Industrial Design degree from the University of Illinois in 1962. She was the only woman in her class. She then headed off to Los Angeles for her first job at Architectural Pottery. At 22 years old, she was the first full-time designer hired by the company.  Unlike La Gardo Tackett, David Cressey, Raul Coronel and many of the other designers at the company, she was not a ceramicist. Her design work was done with pen and paper. She also handled graphic design duties and was responsible for the company's 1964 catalog. Her designs were exhibited in California Design Nine  She was also included in the 2012 CALIFORNIA'S DESIGNING WOMEN: 1896–1986 exhibition and subsequent catalog .  Before being approached by Bill Stern of the Museum of California Design...

Slim pickings: David Stewart, Ravenware, Alvin Lustig... and Billy Curry/Design Line

Gerald McCabe rocker at Reform Gallery The chair was part of the Silhouette Group for Brown Saltman. It's unclear whether Brown Saltman manufactured the chair or was just a distributor.  Prior to Brown Saltman's involvement in the early 60s, the chairs were produced by A&E (Areon & Erin).  They were also exhibited in California Design 6.  The Bailey House (1958), Case Study House 21 by Pierre Koenig.  The sofa, ottoman and stereo cabinet in the back were all custom-made for the house by McCabe.   Photo by Julius Shulman The Bailey House Photo by Julius Shulman Besides the Bailey house and some promotional materials, the chair is nearly impossible to find.  Of course, Reform has these two and a third in yellow.  The chair is seen here flanked by a McCabe glass cube table and a walnut, aluminum and resin table for S/M furniture.  McCabe was part owner of S/M.  ...

La Gardo Tackett for Schmid, 1959 CONE  ^ 14 PORCELAIN

Stan Bitters quote from back in the day. It still holds true.  Time is running out to show your support for modern art, architecture, and historic preservation.  The City's plan is not only a waste of tax dollars, but is also based on outdated planning principles.  Please donate to put a stop to the destruction of  The Fulton Mall in Downtown Fresno . The 1000 Friends of Fresno is filing a lawsuit against the City of Fresno. For this to happen, they need to raise $25,000. They are more than halfway to their goal, but they need your help. Donate   here . Stan is leading the charge to save The Fulton Mall.  He says... " If we don't act fast, the mall is kaput." Source:  Environmental Ceramics If he were still around, Peter Voulkos would be opening up a can of whoop-ass on the City of Fresno. Big A , Peter Voulkos  Under the City's preferred option,17 of the 20 existing sculptures would be relocated. There ...