by Patricia Frischer
Boundless: Reflections of Southern California Landscapes in Midcentury Studio Ceramics
 |
Frank Papworth |
Frank Papworth
Midcentury
ceramics from South California is a very impressive exhibition and this is
because the Mingei can put together an installation that is dynamic and
stunning to view. The use of large photographic murals of landscapes that
directly relate to the works on view was so engaging and supported one of the
major themes of the show…the relation of physical landscape to the creation of these
works. Political and social landscapes are also woven into the didactic,
especially with the display of one work by Peter Volkous from 1970 whose
abstract expressionist bent led to non-functional art objects. This was the
start of studio ceramics movement.
The Mingei
is all about the handmade and Martha Longenecker, its founder, was a student of Laura Andreson’s and
contributed many of the works to this show of nearly 150 objects from Mingei’s
permanent collection curated by Guusje Sanders. But others not mentioned below
who are featured are Rupert J. Deese and
Vivika and Otto Heino as well as Martha Longnecker herself. We love the quote from the press release: "Clay
becomes the language of landscape.”
Gallery View
 |
Laura Andreson |
 |
Beatrice Wood |
 |
Beatrice Wood |
 |
Laura Andreson (left) and Otto and Gertrud Natzler (right) |
 |
Laura Andreson |
 |
Laura Andreson - 2 views this and below |
 |
Laura Andreson |
 |
Laura Andreson |
 |
Harrison McIntosh |
 |
Peter Voulkos |
Restitched:
Feed Sacks in Mid-Twentieth Century Quilts
Guusje
Sanders has also curated the small but delicate Restitched display of
quits made from lefts over cotton feedbags. It is interesting to note that
these feedbags in the 1930’s and 40’s were more and more created by the
manufacturers to cater to the taste of those who purchased them using softer
cotton and removeable or erasable sales tags. Clothes were made from these
sacks as well as house hold funishings, but it is the impressive quilt covers
that tell the story of a handmade art that endures.
 |
Feedsack: long enough for a skirt! |
 |
Feedsack, doll pattern |
 |
Feedsack: scrapes for quilt cover |
 |
Feedsack: scrapes for quilt cover |
 |
Feedsack: scrapes for quilt cover with advertising included |
Restitched gallery view
Inside the
Design Center
A
quick shout out to the mid-century furniture design show which just ended. The Design
Center in Hillcrest was a center in San Diego for all things modern
No comments:
Post a Comment