BEAUTY: Ceramics--Hylton Nel

As South African conceptual artist, sculptor, and ceramicist Hylton Nel says of himself, "Been doing this for 50 years." Over that time, he has created a charming body of work but I am most drawn to his pieces featuring script. I love his sculptures and vases, but the plates are special: lovely works of art, but I would like to use them as functional plates as well...

https://hyltonnel.co.za/HOME

BEAUTY: Mixed Media--Glen Martin Taylor

These wonderfully whimsical recycled/upcycled art pieces by painter-artist Glen Martin Taylor speak to mental health issues and challenges...with a leap toward resiliency.

It is easy to see that the artist has a gentle, thoughtful soul from the work but his current project from his website offers even more proof:
"Current Project: I am currently creating works with broken pottery recovered from the destroyed homes and schools of Ukraine for a traveling exhibition (2024-2026) that will begin in the USA and then Europe, ending in Kiev, Ukraine. The purpose of the project involves awareness, fundraising for relief, and international engagement about the human tragedy of the Ukrainian War."

To purchase one of his pieces, visit his website!
https://glenmartintaylor.com/

How To Set A Table In The French Style

Infographic by M0tty

Heath Ceramics

I went to Sausalito last week to visit my dear friend Sherry Page of Culinary Getaways and we took an impromptu field trip to the Heath Ceramics Studio, located right down by the water. I've loved Heath for years but had never had the opportunity to visit the factory and store until now.

Although there are other Heath locations, the Sausalito space is the original factory started in 1948 by Edith and Brian Heath. In the early 40s, Edith began making ceramics and despite the fact that she had no formal training (or perhaps because of it), she quickly made a name for herself. She had a one-woman exhibition at the San Francisco Legion of Honor in 1944 and a few years later, Heath Ceramics was established. Heath creations went on to adorn many Eichler, Neutra, and mid-century modern homes on tables (in the form of hand-crafted dinnerware), and on floors and walls (in the form of stunning dimensional tile). Edith's work led to advances in clay and glaze development, securing Heath a unique place in ceramic history, along with design awards including the Industrial Arts Award from the American Institute of Architects. Many of her original pieces are a part of the permanent collections of museums such as MOMA and LACMA. The factory itself was built in 1959, and was designed by the Heaths and Marquis and Stoller Architects.

In 2003, the company was bought by Robin Petravic and Catherine Bailey and all of Heath’s products are still handcrafted by skilled artisans in small runs in the Bay Area. Edith and Brian Heath’s vision of "making good things for good people—the right way—" lives on.

In addition to serving platters and trays, Heath makes dinnerware of all kinds, including some very special collections, such as the Chez Panisse collection designed in collaboration with Alice Waters and made for the legendary Berkeley restaurant (which is ground zero for the modern foodie movement!).

They also produce clocks, house numbers, candle holders, and vases. But for me, as an interior designer, I am most interested in the specialty tiles they produce. The Sausalito location boasts an extensive tile design studio where you can see the many different colors and glazes they use in addition to the stunning shaped and raised tiles which can be used for many applications such as on fireplace breasts, and as kitchen back splashes or even bathroom walls!

Your blogmaster at the Heath Ceramic store and factory
Photo by Sherry Page

Visit the Heath website for more information about the history of the company, how they make their products, and information about visiting as well as tours of the Sausalito dinnerware factory or the San Francisco tile factory.
http://www.heathceramics.com/

BEAUTY: Ceramics--Yasha Butler

These stunning ceramic plates are by Yasha Butler. She calls this collection "Functional Landscapes Indigo," made up of shapes and designs from her previous collections "Plateau," "Dune," "Puddle," and "Mineral."

A native of Istanbul, Turkey, Butler says of her work, "I want you to see the world that I see. I want you to experience the sun bleached cliffs, the dry aromatic bushes and the salty Mediterranean waters of my home. I want you to see beauty emerging from the delicate balance of opposites – the intentional and the random, the rough and the smooth, the linear and the organic, the old and the new."

The part that gets me, aside from the sinuous organic shapes, is the color. Indigo is the perfect name for this collection's colorway. Like the shells of  fresh mussels...

http://www.yashabutler.com/

Muriel Grateau Dinnerware

Muriel Grateau designs clothing, jewelry, home accessories, table linens, silverware, and amazing dinnerware. Take a look at these plates from her Paris store.

These mirror-like plates are actually porcelain. Poured and hand finished to produce the reflective sheen, this setting is called Miroir de Sorciere, and indeed it recalls the "scrying mirrors" used as a divination tool by magical practitioners.

Above is an impressive display in her eponymous shop. What blows me away is that most of these settings are in a matte finish!

Her store is located at 37 Rue de Beaune, Paris... if you find yourself in the area, stop in and ogle these art works for the table.

BEAUTY: Ceramics--CTRLZAK

Art and design studio CTRLZAK in Milan created a series of ceramics that are a mash-up, both humorous and thought-provoking, of traditional European and Chinese ceramic design and, as they say on their website, "its centuries of cross-fertilisation between Western and Eastern aesthetics."

On November 12th, 2011, they will be holding a special showing at Troutbeck House in London and pieces from the collection will be on sale. (Link at bottom.)

Visit CTRLZAK's website to see more imaginative, fresh work, especially "remediate," their collection of furniture and interior lighting based on medical objects and hospital design!


http://www.ctrlzak.com/index.html
http://troutbeckhouse.blogspot.com/