Essays
Art Mind: Kurt Schwitters and “Create” at the Berkeley Art Museum
My favorite art shows remind me of an open mind, a mind that is, at least for a time, not distracted by finances, traffic, children, and what author Walker Percy
Looking for Light in the Darkness
Joan Mitchell: Lady Painter by Patricia Albers I’ve been on a bit of Joan Mitchell bender. Recently I finished the new biography Lady Painter by Patricia Albers. Also saw the
Finding Platner at Princeton
Warren Platner endures as a bright (if occasionally shiny) light from the 1960s and 70s. As an architect, he is best remembered for interiors and furniture design. Interiors tend to
A little break to Patmos
An Island Sanctuary: A House in Greece by John Stefanidis I have been reading a lot about the writer Bruce Chatwin recently. One of his many obsessions was the idea
It’s Easter and I have a secret: pink.
Pink is my favorite escape color. When I was a kid and older people asked me, “What is your favorite color?” as a way to make conversation, I always answered,
Swinging Against Competition
Building at the Headland Center for the Arts Went to the Headlands Center for the Arts Open House on Sunday. The lot was full, and I parked outside the old
Design for Deception?
The images and news from Japan continue to reach us – faster than the radiation, I hope. But despite the advanced technologies that allow us to remain hyper-informed, it is
Watching Over Point Lobos, Watching Over Us
Cynthia Criley Williams November 1, 1915–January 29, 2011 Cynthia in August 2009 Cynthia Williams’ work, in the 25 years I knew her, was her web. And I don’t mean the
My Favorite… End of the Year Blog
I have a few secret things that I love. Everybody has them. I love water parks. Related to that, I love boogie boarding. I love hot fudge sundaes. I love
Looking for Billy Baldwin
I always wanted to have an apartment like Billy Baldwin’s. Finally I got to live in a high-rise and have a little desk in my living room. Still don’t have
Day Time
Celebrating Robin and Lucienne Day courtesy of Design Onscreen It’s time for Robin and Lucienne Day to have their moment in the light. Too-long regarded as the Charles and Ray
Design District Ramble
The new Restoration Hardware showroom on Henry Adams Walked down the street the other day to check in on the new Restoration Hardware Showroom that replaced Ed Hardy’s antique emporium
A Sunday Surprise: The Harland Hand Garden
The Harland Hand Garden September 27, 2010I am not a gardener. We don’t even have a terrace. But I love to listen to gardeners talk about their creations. The one
Elaine Kollins Sewell Jones 1917-2010
Elaine Kollins Sewell Jones, Hon. AIA 1917-2010 Elaine Kollins Sewell Jones, Hon. AIA, passed away last month in Los Angeles after being in failing health for several years. I have
Back to a Bolder Future
August 18, 2010 Back to a Bolder Future Design/Research The new book Design Research: The Store That Brought Modern Living to American Homes arrived this week, and I couldn’t wait
Tony Berlant
Brazen Beauty/Less Fragility A Few Notes on Tony Berlant at LA Louver Waylaid, 2010. Courtesy of the LA Louver Gallery Despite the fact that most of my working life centers
Barry Elbasani
Barry Elbasani, FAIA 1941–2010 Michael Severin, Donn Logan, and Barry Elbasani after winning the competition that created their firm. It has been a little over a month since Barry Elbasani
Terminal Days
July 30, 2010 In a few days, San Francisco’s Transbay Terminal will be closed forever. The art moderne structure by Timothy Pflueger has outlived its usefulness. In the last year,
SFMOMA Fisher Collection
A First Visit Alexander Calder: Eighteen Numbered Black, 1953 The Fisher Museum at the Presidio might be under construction now if it weren’t for a few strategic miscalculations (see https://www.kennethcaldwell.com/wpkc/camp-notes/).
Nothing Too Precious
Nothing Too Precious The Nakashima Studio in New Hope, PA Crossing the Delaware Most folks disdain New Jersey, but I love the area around Princeton that bathes you in varied
Dominick Dunne
Dominick Dunne Too Much Money, Too Many SecretsRandom Thoughts on Dominick Dunne and Truman Capote Dominick Dunne’s last novel Too Much Money probably deserves a brief mention on my Facebook
Utopian Cities at SPUR
Photo by Colleen McHugh Through May 28 When urban planners think big, the resulting plans are often labeled “utopian.” Does this mean “head in the clouds” or “impossible to achieve”?
Just Kids: Reaching for the Divine
Patti Smith’s memoir Just Kids is a love story that could take place only in New York in the 1970s. A love story about a woman that links poetry, prayer,
Remains of Religion: Fenton Johnson and Miscellaneous Notes on Faith
Last year, my sister converted to Judaism. We grew up nominally Unitarian. The other day, I was on the phone with my friend Al, and we talked a little about
Faith and Design
I launched this blog about a year ago because I was turning 50 and wanted to share what I was interested in. My father had his first heart attack at
Designer and Teacher Closes His Store on Union Street
My friend and frequent collaborator David Wakely told me that after 45 years, interior designer John Wheatman has retired and closed his shop at 1933 Union Street. I first saw