1157 Armada Drive, Pasadena, CA,

Open House today 1-4 pm

What else are you going to do in this rain?! Come see this house near the Arroyo in Pasadena, that's what!

1157 Armada Drive, Pasadena, CA,

3/1.5  $675,000

The House that Sam Built

Don't miss the Sam Maloof Exhibition currently on display at the Huntington.  Perfect pairing with the Getty's Pacific Standard Time!

The House that Sam Built:  Sam Maloof and Art in the Pomona Valley, 1945–1985 Sept. 24, 2011–Jan. 30, 2012 MaryLou and George Boone Gallery The furniture of midcentury craftsman Sam Maloof (1916–2009) and the art made by 35 members of his circle of friends is explored in the groundbreaking exhibition, “The House That Sam Built: Sam Maloof and Art in the Pomona Valley, 1945–1985” in the MaryLou and George Boone Gallery. Maloof’s work has been given to American presidents, collected by celebrities, and admired by art connoisseurs far and wide. It also has been the subject of major exhibitions across the country, but this will be the first to closely examine Maloof’s contribution to the development of art in Southern California. The exhibition is part of  “Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A. 1945–1980,” an unprecedented collaboration initiated by the Getty that brings together more than 60 cultural institutions from across Southern California to tell the story of the birth of the L.A. art scene. Sam Maloof in workshop with hornback chairs, about 1960. Photo: Alfreda Maloof, courtesy of the Maloof Foundation   Using as its central metaphor the home that Maloof and his wife Alfreda created for themselves in the mid-1950s in Alta Loma, Calif., “The House That Sam Built” and the accompanying catalog will shed new light on the rich network of influences and exchanges that developed among a postwar community of artists and artisans living near the college town of Claremont. The presence in Claremont of several nationally prominent educational institutions—in particular Pomona College, Scripps College, and Claremont Graduate School (now known as Claremont Graduate University)—furnished a rich intellectual context for this community. Covering a dynamic period in American art, the exhibition spans the development of Maloof’s work from his earliest explorations of handcrafted furniture in the 1950s to 1985, the year he received a “Genius Grant” from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Sam Maloof (1916 – 2009), Double Music Stand (1969) and Chair (1972), Brazilian Rosewood Stand: 44 ½ x 51 x 30 ½ in.; chair: 29 x 24 x 18 ¾ in. Collection of the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts, Alta Loma, Calif. Credit: John Sullivan, The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.  “The House That Sam Built” gathers together 116 works from private and public collections, showcasing 35 important Maloof pieces in a display along with 81 works by his friends and colleagues. Among the members of Maloof’s circle represented in the exhibition are painters Karl Benjamin, Phil Dike, and Millard Sheets; sculptors Betty Davenport Ford, Albert Stewart, and John Svenson; ceramists Harrison McIntosh and Otto and Gertrud Natzler; enamelists Jean and Arthur Ames; wood turner Bob Stocksdale; and fiber artist Kay Sekimachi.    Born in Chino, Calif., in 1916 to parents who had emigrated from Lebanon, Sam Maloof was self taught as a woodworker. After serving in the Army during World War II, he worked as a studio assistant to Millard Sheets, an iconic California scene painter and leader of the Claremont art community. Shortly after his marriage to Alfreda Ward in 1948, Maloof decided to embark on a career as a woodworker and furniture maker. Maloof’s dedication to virtuosity in his craft and insistence on maintaining direct relationships with his clients is similar to 18th-century traditions practiced by American cabinetmakers and silversmiths and by the early 20th-century architects Charles and Henry Greene—all represented in The Huntington’s permanent collection galleries.     An Integrated Installation Since The Huntington first opened the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art in 1984, decorative arts objects have been displayed next to paintings and sculpture in meaningful juxtapositions. Harold B. “Hal” Nelson, curator of American decorative arts at The Huntington, adhered to this integrated approach when organizing  “The House That Sam Built.” Sam Maloof (1916 – 2009), Desk Hutch, Calif. 1970, Walnut, 71 5/8 x 43 7/8 x 21 ¾ in. Collection of the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts, Alta Loma, Calif. Credit: John Sullivan, The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. “The Maloof residence and workshop were filled with the finest examples of Sam’s own furniture and offered a warm and welcoming environment where creative colleagues met to share a meal, exchange ideas, and provide mutual support and encouragement,” he said. “Over the years, the Maloofs filled their home with artwork in all media by their friends and colleagues, reflecting their love of hand-crafted objects as well as their unique perspective on the world. The most natural way to tell the story of Sam and his contributions to the art world seemed to be through the integration of decorative arts and craft with painting and sculpture.” Sam Maloof (1916 – 2009), Occasional “String” Chair, 1950, Walnut, maple, and cord, 29 ½ x 24 x 33 in. Collection of the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts, Alta Loma, Calif. Credit: John Sullivan, The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. As visitors enter the exhibition they will be greeted by some of Maloof’s earliest furniture—a round, plywood coffee table with walnut legs; a low, radically abstract “string” chair; and an office chair made for the prominent industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss. As a suggestion of a domestic space, these works will be shown beside a group of ceramics by Otto and Gertrud Natzler, a table lamp by William Manker, and an early geometric painting by Karl Benjamin. The painting is one of two works in the exhibition by Karl Benjamin. Also featured is #4, made in 1968, a recent gift to The Huntington. Millard Sheets (1907 – 1989), Early Morning Patzcuaro, 1947-1948, Watercolor on paper, 39 x 29 ¼ in. Collection of the Sam and Alfreda Foundation for Arts and Crafts, Alta Loma, Calif. Credit: John Sullivan, The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Across from this group, visitors can explore three vibrantly colorful watercolors—two by Maloof and one by his mentor, Millard Sheets—all produced during a trip the two friends took to Mexico in late 1947 and early 1948. In another section of  the gallery, paintings by Emil Kosa, Henry Lee McFee, and Milford Zornes will be placed next to a sofa, two chairs, a coffee table, and a bench. The bench is another recent gift to The Huntington. Throughout the exhibition, visitors are encouraged to view Maloof’s work as beautifully designed sculptural forms. “The House That Sam Built” includes three examples of Maloof’s classic form, the rocking chair. It also features one of Maloof’s largest and most elegant forms, a free-standing cradle. In an educational resource room, visitors can peruse letters and photographs, get a feel for the tactile quality of Maloof’s sculpted and smoothly finished work, and listen to audio recordings of members of Maloof’s circle discussing their abiding friendship and what it meant to their work. This exhibition is made possible by a lead grant from the Getty Foundation. Major support was also provided by the Steven and Kelly McLeod Family Foundation and the Windgate Charitable Foundation. Additional support was provided by the Ahmanson Foundation Exhibition and Education Endowment and the Elsie De Wolfe Foundation. Exhibition Catalog The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens has published a companion book to the exhibition, The House That Sam Built: Sam Maloof and Art in the Pomona Valley, 1945–1985. The 192-page, fully illustrated catalog chronicles the development of Maloof’s work from his earliest explorations of handcrafted furniture to 1985, exploring his achievement over those decades in a series of interrelated contexts, from his relationship to the Claremont-based art community to his leadership of the national craft movement. The House that Sam Built is edited by Harold B. “Hal” Nelson, curator of American decorative arts at The Huntington, and features contributions by Jeremy Adamson, curator of the 2001 Smithsonian retrospective on Maloof; and scholars Jason T. Busch, Jonathan L. Fairbanks, and Tia Vasiliou; as well as an interview with fiber artist Kay Sekimachi.Hardcover ($39.95) and softcover editions ($29.95) are available at The Huntington’s Bookstore & More (bookstore@huntington.org, 626-405-2142) and from booksellers nationwide. The House That Sam Built is published with the assistance of the Getty Foundation.

1886 Bar's 1 Year Anniversary Celebration

My favorite meeting place is having its 1 Year Anniversary.  Beautiful space, outdoor dining and drinking on several patio areas, mixologists that can mix it up with the best of them, tasty dinner or bar snacks, and only two blocks from my house.  Really what could be better?

I like it so much I've been known to refer to it as my second living room.

Find info on the event here - The Raymond Restaurant - 1250 South Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena.  626-441-4770.

See you there?

PS - Brunch there is amazingly tasty.

Santa Days at the Huntington Library, Art & Gardens

I know that Gainsborough isn't a picture of Santa, but it is one of the most well known images at the Huntington Library and Gardens.  Speaking of the amazing Huntington, there is always an overwhelming choice of events, classes, exhibits to see and attend, as well as just the most relaxing stroll through the gardens of your choice, but December 3 & 4 they have Santa Days for Members.  Bring your camera and take your own photo with Santa in the botanical center.  Hear holiday readings of Clement C. Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Mrs. Claus (in the flesh) at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm.  Perfect for kids and those of you who are kids at heart.  If you need a snapshot for your Xmas card - perfect opportunity folks!

The event is for members only so isn't now the time to join and support this amazing institution as a member?

I'll leave you with another image of the Huntington from my favorite garden.  The desert garden.

Pasadena Playhouse Diversity Event - Blues For An Alabama Sky

Last night we attended the Pasadena Playhouse Theatrical Diversity Project's opening night celebration which featured opening night of Robin Given's starring in Blues for An Alabama Sky and honoring David DiCristofaro of Wells Fargo Bank for his leadership and support of theatrical diversity at the Pasadena Playhouse.


The food beforehand at Elements was delicious as always.  One of my favorite meeting places in Pasadena btw.  


The show was great and the intermission for the patrons and committee members was held in the beautiful library upstairs.  Such a gorgeous room and theater.  


The Diversity Committee managed to raise very close to their goal and the house was sold out.


It's your turn to get out, see the show and support California's State Theater!  You can purchase tickets on their site here.  Better yet - suscribe while you're at it.  The Arts don't carry on without your support.


PS - Sunday's LA Times Arts and Books Section had an article on the Playhouse and it's Artistic Director, Sheldon Epps.  

B-I-N-G-O

20th Annual Bingo Night

• Friday, November 4th, 2011 •

The Pasadena Foothills Association of REALTORS® Charitable Foundation proudly presents our 20th Annual Bingo Night on Friday, November 4th, 2011, 6:30 to 9:30 PM at Gray Hall, Oneonta Church - 1515 Garfield, South Pasadena. Food & Refreshments will be available for purchase with all proceeds benefitting local charities! 

And a fabulous time was had once again!  Yes folks, BINGO.  With the fabulous and only slightly tipsy Michaela P calling games 9 & 10, our inimitable Bacon holding 5 game cards, scads of raffle tickets and everyone at the table geared up to win, a packed house, pizza, Diane salad from Green Street, wine and cookies, how could we not?  And, drum roll please, we had a winner at our table.  The lucky gal was our very own Carol L.  Taking home her new Razor Scooter.  Yes folks you can see her driving around the reservoir in Silver Lake on her shiny new, 10 mile an hour, Razor.  Hot stuff indeed!

The $ raised goes to the PFAR Charities and you can read about it here.

If you'd like to be one of the lucky few - I have a table of 10 every fall....it's stupid fun.  For real.

BINGO!