Happy New Year

Happy New Year. More research to come in 2009.

image from the Life Archive

Russel Wright

Big big thanks to Ready for the House for the connection to designer Russel Wright. Wright designed across the spectrum of useful objects, from furniture to dinnerware, utensils and textiles. He also designed and created his beautiful home and studio in Garrison New York, which he named Manitoga. After years of that area been harmed by the mining and lumber industries, Wright returned it to its original landscape with native plants and appropriate design. Manitoga is now a National Historical Landmark. Plus as RFTH pointed out, Bauer Pottery in Los Angeles will reissue Wright's signature American Modern Tableware line in the Spring of 2009.

Russel Wright Studio HERE

Bauer Pottery HERE

Man on Wire

Great Documentary, well worth checking out.

Can

Just finished the road trip back to San Francisco from Los Angeles and Laguna, and had a chance to listen to my new Can record, "unLimited Edition", originally "Limited Edition" from 1974 .  Thanks Nat!

Les Orenstein Ceramics

Also, from Laguna a happy holiday to Les Orenstein. I worked as an apprentice to Les at Lill Street Studios in Chicago in 1995. Loading kilns, trimming vessels, waxing and glazing, were all in a days work with Les watching Bulls games on a black and white television. The images here are from a few pieces at my Mothers place, that I must have toted back from the 1995 production. It was quite the education in work ethic, and commitment for an 18-19 year old kid.

Franz West

Also today a post on Franz West, fresh off the review from Ken Johnson in the New York Times calling him maybe one of the worlds most overrated artists. I have to disagree!! Just a few images in praise of Mr. West here, from furniture to papier- mache chunks, always on target for me.

New York Times Review HERE

Lagardo Tackett

Since these posts are coming to you from my travels in Los Angeles for the Holidays, we have further building off the Architectural Pottery and Malcolm Leland posts. Today is Lagardo Tackett. Many of Tackett's pieces can be seen in the Architectural Pottery line. Very clean sober lines, does it for me every time.

Moon Rocks

moon rocks from 1970's Life Archive.

Life HERE

Gertrud and Otto Natzler

The Natzler's are no secret to the world of studio ceramics, Gertrud did the throwing, Otto the glazing. Awesome.... An exhibition of work selected by Jeremy Briddell and Adam Silverman of Atwater Pottery and Heath Ceramics, will continue at the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland until January 25th, 2009. 

Museum of Contemporary Craft HERE

Pylos Restaurant, New York

I was looking through some old cell phone photographs yesterday, and came across a photo from Pylos in the East Village. (I ran across this place very late one night without a camera.) I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get the photo off the phone, but I was able to find a few photos from the New York Times and New York Magazine. I do love that ceiling. All of the vessels were made in New York.

New York Times Review HERE

Ottoman Tiles

I just received this beautiful card in the mail from a former student, turned friend and collegue from Istanbul. So beautiful, that we have a post today on Ottoman Tiles from the Topkapi Palace. The palace itself was in use roughly from 1459-1853, and the tile work is mostly Iznik ceramic, which from my little research, seems to have disappeared in the 18th century.

Thanks Cigdem!

Shigaraki

A post on the Japanese Ceramic Center of Shigaraki. The clay is local and often very rough, and fired by wood in an Anagama (cave like) style kiln. This is an area with an extremely long history. There is now a residency center in Shigaraki, with a museum etc.

Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park HERE

Monday Morning around the House #2

Small things from around the house monday morning.

from the top:

-Jimpi Ceramic Coin

-studio ianiswas holiday 2007

-wood fired cup and saucer by swedish artist Jennifer Forsberg

-small porcelain container by Belgian designer Jan Marechal

-small wood fired containers by Danish artist Charlotte Thorup

Interior Archive

It's raining today in San Francisco, so I am thinking of the indoors. Here are a few of  my favorite interior views from the archive. From the top:

-Hearst Castle in San Simeon California

-Interior walkway in Bologna, Italy

-Interior of the International Ceramic Museum, Faenza, Italy

-Lloyd Hotel, Eastern Docklands, Amsterdam (room design by Atelier Van Lieshout)

-Kiln, San Francisco Art Institute