Making the Rounds/Pacific Standard Time- October 2011

It's an extravaganza. Over 60 museums  plus many private galleries, all exhibiting California art and design created between 1945-1980.  Wow, are we having fun making the rounds!

My favorites so far:

Eames Designs: The Guest Host Relationship at the A +D Architecture Museum, inspires us to look carefully - using the Eames' own words - to better appreciate common objects and tools. One juxtaposition: a hank of yarn and a braided bread loaf. Not only beautiful and unexpected, but the yarn is Merino Light, hand-dyed by Madelinetosh, a company I represent!

Way Out West at L and M Gallery was another gem - three compact rooms displaying light sculptures by Robert Irwin. I also snagged a copy of Notes Toward a Conditional Art, a compilation of his writings - his ideas are so illuminating. (Did I really just say that?) Too bad this particular show wasn't up for long, but fortunately there is Phenomenal California: Light, Space, Surface at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, through January 22.

Beatrice Wood: Career Woman at the Santa Monica Museum of Art is truly a labor of love - and it shows. This comprehensive exhibit explores the life and career of Beatrice Wood through the objects she created, gathering examples of her best ceramic pieces from public and private collections. What a great exhibit and an example of a long life well-lived.

Amazingly enough, I did manage to make something this month. Almost finished with a new piece - and cleaning up my studio in preparation for a visit by a film crew - more later, when I am able to share the details!