Esoteric Survey

Los Manantiales by Felix Candela, in Mexico City
The restaurant was designed by the Spanish-born architect in 1958. The structure, comprised of four thin-shelled concrete hyperbolic paraboloids, is referred to as "la flor" (the flower) by the locals in Xochimilco.

I spoke to the lady who runs the restaurant. She said the building was just awarded some sort of historical designation, but the government doesn't offer any funding for restoration.
The mosaic mural on the wall in front of the building shows the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco, which are just behind the restaurant.
Groups rent boats and have parties as they're taken through the canals. Smaller boats pull up and offer drinks and snacks for sale.

I hired my own boat and went solo. I guess that doesn't happen often. I was getting a lot of funny looks, or maybe they just felt bad for me.
How else was I going to get this view?

Los Manantiales is about an hour car ride from central Mexico City.

Mel Smilow

Bill Curry for Design Line

John Follis studio pots
Tom Tramel wood vases
Tramel vases pop up here and there, but I've always wondered where the table from California Design 10 went.
Found it!
Who knew there was a matching side table?
Then there is the jewelry chest from California Design 11.
Found that too. 

Multiple Visions: A Common Bond at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The permanent installation includes over 10,000 objects, which were donated by Alexander Girard. The collection in total has over 100,000 items and represents more than 100 countries. The exhibition was designed by Alexander Girard and opened in 1982.




 This is a good time to pause and just say that the exhibition design by Girard is incredible. It really brings the collection to life.




The Girard family used this tree in their home. Here it is on top of a custom Girard table in their Grosse Pointe house, 1944.
Photo: ALEXANDER GIRARD,by Todd Oldham & Kiera Coffee


Girard's first home in Santa Fe, 1953.
Photo: ALEXANDER GIRARD,by Todd Oldham & Kiera Coffee

Bob Stocksdale, Black Walnut from California
Pretty close to the paper bowl by his wife Kay Sekimachi
Japan
Wayne Chapman
Dean Santner articulated alligator
This DCW has had a rough life, but still looks incredible
This Evans label dates back to 1946

Moholy-Nagy: Future Present opened recently at LACMA.
The exhibition looks at the work by the painter, photographer, sculptor, filmmaker, graphic/type designer, space designer, and teacher at the Bauhaus, Hungarian-born László Moholy-Nagy (1895-1946). Yellow Circle and Black Square, 1921


Construction in Enamel 1–3, 1923


A IX, 1923
A II (Construction A II), 1924




Vertical Black, Red, Blue, 1945


The exhibition runs until June 18th 👋